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[51.4792N, 0.0000E] 08/09/2026, 13:00:13 Europe/London
Object: Mars [open sky map]
RA 05h 54m 37.2s Dec +23° 38' 18.9" Appar J2000
Mag: 1.27 (Estimated: JPL) Const: Taurus
Current ID: 240836
Total number of registered users: 19,630
Total number of topics: 9,098
Total number of posts: 236,516
Newest registered user: Redfoot-2026
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Guests online: 47
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===
Today on Mars: 0038/23/05 Thursday Days of the week OFFSET 3 with Earth. (count from Mars to Earth )
Sol 618 Business Month 23 Fourth month of Quarter 4 of Year 38
Today on Earth: 2026/08/09 Sunday Earth Date)
>16
To see how this calendar works, we show the standard 28 day month at the bottom of this daily report.
There are 20 months of 28 Sols and 4 months of 27 Sols at the end of the four six-month quarters.
New Years Eve is extended to align the Business Calendar for Mars with the Astronomical calendar.
Business and Astronomical both start at zero (to the nanosecond) on New Year's Day.
This calendar has been in operation for two full Mars years (36 and 37). We are in Year 38
This calendar is NOT the Darian Calendar!
Per http://www-mars.lmd.jussieu.fr/mars/tim … _time.html also see: in-the-sky.org for opposition/perigee/aphelion
Martian Year: 38 Martian Astronomical Interval in 12 interval format: 12 <<== The Astronomical interval
Check Longitude: the interval will increment when longitude reaches 360 degrees
===
Solar Longitude: 332.5 Sol Number: 618 Change in degrees is +.5 Julian date is: J0038618
Solar Longitude: 332.0 Sol Number: 617 Change in degrees is +.6 Julian date is: J0038617
Solar Longitude: 331.4 Sol Number: 616 Change in degrees is +.5 Julian date is: J0038616
#4>
Note that Solar Longitude measurement varies as a function of location in orbit. Ls 0 is the moment when the Sun appears to transit from one hemisphere to the other. Update from Mars.NASA.gov (The Sun crosses the equator of Mars (Vernal Equinox)). The transition itself is a function of the tilt of an object with respect to the Solar plane. Per squarewidget.com, Hipparchus created the celestial coordinate system we use today.
Note#2: https://theskylive.com/mars-tracker This web site shows the astronomical position of Mars as seen from Earth
Todo: At next Aphelion/Perihelion record the Mars date as J00##### (and set Search term)
Perihelion occurred in 2026 at Ls 251 on Sol 486 - Earth Date 2026/03/27 Next: (estimated) 2028/05/15
Perihelion occurred in 2024 at Ls 251 on Sol 485 - Earth Date 2024/05/08 Next: (estimated) 2026/03/06 (actual) 2026/03/26
Perihelion occurred in 2022 at Ls 251 on Sol 485 - Earth Date 2022/06/21 Next: (actual) 2024/05/08
Aphelion Earth Dates: Next: 2027/03/04 Earlier: 2025/04/16, 2023/05/30, 2021/07/12, 2019/08/25, 2017/10/07, 2015/11/20
Aphelion occurred at--- Ls 071 on Sol 152.
Aphelion occurred near Ls 070 on Sol 153 (per http://www.planetary.org)
Note#3: The computations below are dependent upon both the computations provided by the reference web site and by accuracy of recording of the time of observations. The calculations use tenths of hours. The Sun Distance needs to be captured at the moment the time increments to a given tenth.
Note on data below: The figure quoted after distance is a rate of progress along the orbital path [exact meaning to be determined]
Minus prefix means Mars is approaching the Sun. Plus prefix means Mars is moving away from the Sun.
The figure computed to the right of "Difference" is the rate of change of the distance to Sun. Increasing to Aphelion/Decreasing to Perihelion.
Aphelion of Mars is due March 04, 2027 Sol 151-152 Note velocity of Mars was 22.0 km/s nearing Aphelion (21.97 km/s)
Perhelion of Mars is due May, 2028 Sol 251 Note velocity of Mars was 26.5 km/s nearing Perhelion 2026/03/26
===
Distance: Mars >> Sun per theskylive.com: 222,989,129 km [24.7 km/s] Difference is +193512 <= +8063 km/hour at 12.0 on 08/09 (time 12:00) (24.0 hours)
Distance: Mars >> Sun per theskylive.com: 222,795,617 km [24.7 km/s] Difference is +193253 <= +8052 km/hour at 12.0 on 08/08 (time 12:00) (24.0 hours)
Distance: Mars >> Sun per theskylive.com: 222,602,364 km [24.7 km/s] Difference is +192994 <= +8041 km/hour at 12.0 on 08/07 (time 12:00) (24.0 hours)
>13
Velocity along the orbit is NOT the same thing as velocity change of the radial distance to the Sun. Both are shown in the section above.
j
Observation: The sky view is ** filled ** with objects and some have been recorded and given identification by humans or their robot assistants
And! ** All ** the location assignments are from the perspective of Earth. The entire catalog needs to be adjusted when inter-stellar travel begins
The work that lies ahead for the astronomical community is daunting - there is work ahead for centuries
2022/01/19 - All current (existing) stellar catalogs are computed with reference to the Earth. Another civilization would use it's planet as reference.
Perhaps a Milky Way frame of reference will become necessary at some point. The Earth is as good a Zero point as any, for humans.
=== Mars is in Regular movement as seen from Earth.
Mars is in Taurus
Next ahead: six stars forum a V shape in the path: TYC 1863-1535-1 RA 05h 56m 21.3s
theskylive.com went offline for maintenance and it is back up with objects showing as usual. Thank you!
14>
Zoom Out Capability As a general observation ... I've become increasingly interested in knowing what the larger view of the sky might be like.
The site: theskylive.com does a terrific job of matching the view from Earth towards Mars, against a background of actual astronomical plates.
I wish there were a way (or rather, I wish I ** knew ** about a way that may exist) to enlarge the view until the entire galaxy is in view (Zoom out)
Update 2022/12/08 TheSkyLive.com provides a large view of selected objects: Select [Major Bodies] Then select [Information] in the body of interest
Update 2022/12/08 Scroll down to (body) Position and Finder Charts. Field of view is 50x30 degrees.
Light travel in one second is (about) 300,000 kilometers. The distance covered in one minute is about 18,000,000 kilometers. Estimated light times:
1:18,2:36,3:54,4:72,5:90,6:108,7:126,8:144,9:162,10:180,11:198,12:216,13:234,14:252,15:270,16:288,17:306,18:324, 19:342,20:360,21:378,22:396
Light travel time today is between 17 and 18 minutes. Communications delay would be 34+ minutes round trip.
=== Time estimate will change below 288 megaKm
Earth Distance in km: 2026/08/09 293,400,888 (decreasing)
Earth Distance in km: 2026/08/08 294,062,838 (decreasing)
Earth Distance in km: 2026/08/07 294,718,298 (decreasing)
6<#
Maximum Earth-Mars distance is estimated to be 401 million kilometers (both at apogee and opposite vs Sun) Minimum is about 56 million kilometers
Mars and Earth were in Opposition (Earth center) in December of 2022. The date coincided with a (very rare) occultation of Mars by the Moon.
Mars and Earth were in Conjunction (Sun center) in November of 2023.
Mars and Earth appear to have been as close as they will get in Year 36. 81,454,323 kilometers on J0036644 Time: 4.53 minutes - 9 minutes round trip
In his online interview with Dr. Zubrin at the 2020 Mars Conference, Elon Musk reminded the audience that communications with Mars will necessarily include an intermediary station to handle traffic when the Sun is between Mars and Earth. Communications delays in that circumstance will increase due to the extra distance to be covered. Mr. Musk indicated he expects such communication will be handled by laser. Location would be optimum at poles of solar plane.
This web site offers an online model of the solar system: www.solarsystemscope.com
This web site offers an online orrery view of the Solar System: https://www.theplanetstoday.com/
===
Sol 618 is in Month 23 of a Proposed 24 month calendar. See Post 19 of Holidays topic for a summary. <<< 595 is skip day on Mars
Month 23 extends from Sol 614 through 651. <<== There are 28 days in Month 23. See post 82 of Holidays topic for current details.
Direct path to source: http://newmars.com/forums/viewtopic.php … 57#p154257
Sol 618 is Thursday in the Proposed Business calendar for Mars. Sol 595 Skip Day on Mars. Next is near 632 of Year 38 595
##
The Next New Year's on Mars will occur when Solar Longitude reaches 360 degrees. Year 38 started November 12, 2024 on Earth
Per www.planetary.org Year 36 started 2021/02/07 on Earth. Mars Year 37 began 2022/12/27 on Earth.
Days of the Week Alignment:
Days of the week fall behind Earth due to the longer Sol, but they also change when Friday is omitted at the end of a Quarter
337 Earth days were observed to elapse in the 2020 weekday cycle. There were 7 week day transitions and 2 Quarter ends.
The next cycle began on the first Sol of the period of coincidence. The alignment of weekdays interval is in the range: (310 - 337)
To find the first day of a period of coincidence: Set up: SearchTerm(colon) and (colon)Alignment and J0036* or J0037*
The most recent End-Of-Quarter change occurred: … The search specified above gave 11 pages of results.
For current weather on Mars see:
***https://mars.nasa.gov/insight/weather/***
***Insight's weather info has been suspended and now is directing to msl*** <<-- Insight's mission is over (2022)
https://mars.nasa.gov/msl/weather/
Per SpaceNut: Here is another web page by NASA containing the latest news releases
https://mars.nasa.gov/news/?page=0&per_ … ope=Latest
All forum members are invited to post significant events for this day.
Events of interest will be ON Mars, or relate to Mars. Examples are launches, landings, discoveries
Standard Month in Mars Business Calendar Copyright ® 2023 NewMars.com Mars Society
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
Recruiting text may be found at the bottom of this post: http://newmars.com/forums/viewtopic.php … 57#p154257
Copyright the Mars Society All Rights Reserved
Month 23 of 24: <<== Fifth month of Quarter 4 Note start of Astromical Month 12 in Year 38
Offline
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Place holder for today's Calendar update:
[51.4792N, 0.0000E] 08/10/2026, 13:00:01 Europe/London
Object: Mars [open sky map]
RA 05h 57m 31.2s Dec +23° 39' 25.2" Appar J2000
Mag: 1.28 (Estimated: JPL) Const: Taurus
Current ID: 240864
Total number of registered users: 19,630
Total number of topics: 9,098
Total number of posts: 236,544
Newest registered user: Redfoot-2026
Registered users online: 1
Guests online: 122
Online: tahanson43206
Offline
Like button can go here
===
Today on Mars: 0038/23/06 Friday Days of the week OFFSET 3 with Earth. (count from Mars to Earth )
Sol 619 Business Month 23 Fourth month of Quarter 4 of Year 38
Today on Earth: 2026/08/10 Monday Earth Date)
>16
To see how this calendar works, we show the standard 28 day month at the bottom of this daily report.
There are 20 months of 28 Sols and 4 months of 27 Sols at the end of the four six-month quarters.
New Years Eve is extended to align the Business Calendar for Mars with the Astronomical calendar.
Business and Astronomical both start at zero (to the nanosecond) on New Year's Day.
This calendar has been in operation for two full Mars years (36 and 37). We are in Year 38
This calendar is NOT the Darian Calendar!
Per http://www-mars.lmd.jussieu.fr/mars/tim … _time.html also see: in-the-sky.org for opposition/perigee/aphelion
Martian Year: 38 Martian Astronomical Interval in 12 interval format: 12 <<== The Astronomical interval
Check Longitude: the interval will increment when longitude reaches 360 degrees
===
Solar Longitude: 333.1 Sol Number: 619 Change in degrees is +.6 Julian date is: J0038619
Solar Longitude: 332.5 Sol Number: 618 Change in degrees is +.5 Julian date is: J0038618
Solar Longitude: 332.0 Sol Number: 617 Change in degrees is +.6 Julian date is: J0038617
#4>
Note that Solar Longitude measurement varies as a function of location in orbit. Ls 0 is the moment when the Sun appears to transit from one hemisphere to the other. Update from Mars.NASA.gov (The Sun crosses the equator of Mars (Vernal Equinox)). The transition itself is a function of the tilt of an object with respect to the Solar plane. Per squarewidget.com, Hipparchus created the celestial coordinate system we use today.
Note#2: https://theskylive.com/mars-tracker This web site shows the astronomical position of Mars as seen from Earth
Todo: At next Aphelion/Perihelion record the Mars date as J00##### (and set Search term)
Perihelion occurred in 2026 at Ls 251 on Sol 486 - Earth Date 2026/03/27 Next: (estimated) 2028/05/15
Perihelion occurred in 2024 at Ls 251 on Sol 485 - Earth Date 2024/05/08 Next: (estimated) 2026/03/06 (actual) 2026/03/26
Perihelion occurred in 2022 at Ls 251 on Sol 485 - Earth Date 2022/06/21 Next: (actual) 2024/05/08
Aphelion Earth Dates: Next: 2027/03/04 Earlier: 2025/04/16, 2023/05/30, 2021/07/12, 2019/08/25, 2017/10/07, 2015/11/20
Aphelion occurred at--- Ls 071 on Sol 152.
Aphelion occurred near Ls 070 on Sol 153 (per http://www.planetary.org)
Note#3: The computations below are dependent upon both the computations provided by the reference web site and by accuracy of recording of the time of observations. The calculations use tenths of hours. The Sun Distance needs to be captured at the moment the time increments to a given tenth.
Note on data below: The figure quoted after distance is a rate of progress along the orbital path [exact meaning to be determined]
Minus prefix means Mars is approaching the Sun. Plus prefix means Mars is moving away from the Sun.
The figure computed to the right of "Difference" is the rate of change of the distance to Sun. Increasing to Aphelion/Decreasing to Perihelion.
Aphelion of Mars is due March 04, 2027 Sol 151-152 Note velocity of Mars was 22.0 km/s nearing Aphelion (21.97 km/s)
Perhelion of Mars is due May, 2028 Sol 251 Note velocity of Mars was 26.5 km/s nearing Perhelion 2026/03/26
===
Distance: Mars >> Sun per theskylive.com: 223,182,895 km [24.6 km/s] Difference is +193766 <= +8074 km/hour at 12.0 on 08/10 (time 12:00) (24.0 hours)
Distance: Mars >> Sun per theskylive.com: 222,989,129 km [24.7 km/s] Difference is +193512 <= +8063 km/hour at 12.0 on 08/09 (time 12:00) (24.0 hours)
Distance: Mars >> Sun per theskylive.com: 222,795,617 km [24.7 km/s] Difference is +193253 <= +8052 km/hour at 12.0 on 08/08 (time 12:00) (24.0 hours)
>13
Velocity along the orbit is NOT the same thing as velocity change of the radial distance to the Sun. Both are shown in the section above.
Observation: The sky view is ** filled ** with objects and some have been recorded and given identification by humans or their robot assistants
And! ** All ** the location assignments are from the perspective of Earth. The entire catalog needs to be adjusted when inter-stellar travel begins
The work that lies ahead for the astronomical community is daunting - there is work ahead for centuries
2022/01/19 - All current (existing) stellar catalogs are computed with reference to the Earth. Another civilization would use it's planet as reference.
Perhaps a Milky Way frame of reference will become necessary at some point. The Earth is as good a Zero point as any, for humans.
=== Mars is in Regular movement as seen from Earth.
Mars is in Taurus
Next ahead: bright TYC Magnitude m7.67 TYC 1863-1257-1
six stars forum a V shape in the path: TYC 1863-1535-1 RA 05h 56m 21.3s Day 2 just past Mars
theskylive.com went offline for maintenance and it is back up with objects showing as usual. Thank you!
14>
Zoom Out Capability As a general observation ... I've become increasingly interested in knowing what the larger view of the sky might be like.
The site: theskylive.com does a terrific job of matching the view from Earth towards Mars, against a background of actual astronomical plates.
I wish there were a way (or rather, I wish I ** knew ** about a way that may exist) to enlarge the view until the entire galaxy is in view (Zoom out)
Update 2022/12/08 TheSkyLive.com provides a large view of selected objects: Select [Major Bodies] Then select [Information] in the body of interest
Update 2022/12/08 Scroll down to (body) Position and Finder Charts. Field of view is 50x30 degrees.
Light travel in one second is (about) 300,000 kilometers. The distance covered in one minute is about 18,000,000 kilometers. Estimated light times:
1:18,2:36,3:54,4:72,5:90,6:108,7:126,8:144,9:162,10:180,11:198,12:216,13:234,14:252,15:270,16:288,17:306,18:324, 19:342,20:360,21:378,22:396
Light travel time today is between 17 and 18 minutes. Communications delay would be 34+ minutes round trip.
=== Time estimate will change below 288 megaKm
Earth Distance in km: 2026/08/10 292,732,363 (decreasing)
Earth Distance in km: 2026/08/09 293,400,888 (decreasing)
Earth Distance in km: 2026/08/08 294,062,838 (decreasing)
6<#
Maximum Earth-Mars distance is estimated to be 401 million kilometers (both at apogee and opposite vs Sun) Minimum is about 56 million kilometers
Mars and Earth were in Opposition (Earth center) in December of 2022. The date coincided with a (very rare) occultation of Mars by the Moon.
Mars and Earth were in Conjunction (Sun center) in November of 2023.
Mars and Earth appear to have been as close as they will get in Year 36. 81,454,323 kilometers on J0036644 Time: 4.53 minutes - 9 minutes round trip
In his online interview with Dr. Zubrin at the 2020 Mars Conference, Elon Musk reminded the audience that communications with Mars will necessarily include an intermediary station to handle traffic when the Sun is between Mars and Earth. Communications delays in that circumstance will increase due to the extra distance to be covered. Mr. Musk indicated he expects such communication will be handled by laser. Location would be optimum at poles of solar plane.
This web site offers an online model of the solar system: www.solarsystemscope.com
This web site offers an online orrery view of the Solar System: https://www.theplanetstoday.com/
===
Sol 619 is in Month 23 of a Proposed 24 month calendar. See Post 19 of Holidays topic for a summary. <<< 595 is skip day on Mars
Month 23 extends from Sol 614 through 651. <<== There are 28 days in Month 23. See post 82 of Holidays topic for current details.
Direct path to source: http://newmars.com/forums/viewtopic.php … 57#p154257
Sol 619 is Friday in the Proposed Business calendar for Mars. Sol 595 Skip Day on Mars. Next is near 632 of Year 38 595
##
The Next New Year's on Mars will occur when Solar Longitude reaches 360 degrees. Year 38 started November 12, 2024 on Earth
Per www.planetary.org Year 36 started 2021/02/07 on Earth. Mars Year 37 began 2022/12/27 on Earth.
Days of the Week Alignment:
Days of the week fall behind Earth due to the longer Sol, but they also change when Friday is omitted at the end of a Quarter
337 Earth days were observed to elapse in the 2020 weekday cycle. There were 7 week day transitions and 2 Quarter ends.
The next cycle began on the first Sol of the period of coincidence. The alignment of weekdays interval is in the range: (310 - 337)
To find the first day of a period of coincidence: Set up: SearchTerm(colon) and (colon)Alignment and J0036* or J0037*
The most recent End-Of-Quarter change occurred: … The search specified above gave 11 pages of results.
For current weather on Mars see:
***https://mars.nasa.gov/insight/weather/***
***Insight's weather info has been suspended and now is directing to msl*** <<-- Insight's mission is over (2022)
https://mars.nasa.gov/msl/weather/
Per SpaceNut: Here is another web page by NASA containing the latest news releases
https://mars.nasa.gov/news/?page=0&per_ … ope=Latest
All forum members are invited to post significant events for this day.
Events of interest will be ON Mars, or relate to Mars. Examples are launches, landings, discoveries
Standard Month in Mars Business Calendar Copyright ® 2023 NewMars.com Mars Society
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
Recruiting text may be found at the bottom of this post: http://newmars.com/forums/viewtopic.php … 57#p154257
Copyright the Mars Society All Rights Reserved
Month 23 of 24: <<== Fifth month of Quarter 4 Note start of Astromical Month 12 in Year 38
Offline
Like button can go here
Place holder for today's Calendar update:
[51.4792N, 0.0000E] 08/11/2026, 13:00:08 Europe/London
Object: Mars [open sky map]
RA 06h 00m 24.8s Dec +23° 40' 19.3" Appar J2000
Mag: 1.28 (Estimated: JPL) Const: Taurus
Current ID: 240873
Total number of registered users: 19,630
Total number of topics: 9,098
Total number of posts: 236,553
Newest registered user: Redfoot-2026
Registered users online: 1
Guests online: 136
Online: tahanson43206
Offline
Like button can go here
===
Today on Mars: 0038/23/07 Saturday Days of the week OFFSET 3 with Earth. (count from Mars to Earth )
Sol 620 Business Month 23 Fourth month of Quarter 4 of Year 38
Today on Earth: 2026/08/11 Tuesday Earth Date)
>16
To see how this calendar works, we show the standard 28 day month at the bottom of this daily report.
There are 20 months of 28 Sols and 4 months of 27 Sols at the end of the four six-month quarters.
New Years Eve is extended to align the Business Calendar for Mars with the Astronomical calendar.
Business and Astronomical both start at zero (to the nanosecond) on New Year's Day.
This calendar has been in operation for two full Mars years (36 and 37). We are in Year 38
This calendar is NOT the Darian Calendar!
Per http://www-mars.lmd.jussieu.fr/mars/tim … _time.html also see: in-the-sky.org for opposition/perigee/aphelion
Martian Year: 38 Martian Astronomical Interval in 12 interval format: 12 <<== The Astronomical interval
Check Longitude: the interval will increment when longitude reaches 360 degrees
===
Solar Longitude: 333.6 Sol Number: 620 Change in degrees is +.5 Julian date is: J0038620
Solar Longitude: 333.1 Sol Number: 619 Change in degrees is +.6 Julian date is: J0038619
Solar Longitude: 332.5 Sol Number: 618 Change in degrees is +.5 Julian date is: J0038618
#4>
Note that Solar Longitude measurement varies as a function of location in orbit. Ls 0 is the moment when the Sun appears to transit from one hemisphere to the other. Update from Mars.NASA.gov (The Sun crosses the equator of Mars (Vernal Equinox)). The transition itself is a function of the tilt of an object with respect to the Solar plane. Per squarewidget.com, Hipparchus created the celestial coordinate system we use today.
Note#2: https://theskylive.com/mars-tracker This web site shows the astronomical position of Mars as seen from Earth
Todo: At next Aphelion/Perihelion record the Mars date as J00##### (and set Search term)
Perihelion occurred in 2026 at Ls 251 on Sol 486 - Earth Date 2026/03/27 Next: (estimated) 2028/05/15
Perihelion occurred in 2024 at Ls 251 on Sol 485 - Earth Date 2024/05/08 Next: (estimated) 2026/03/06 (actual) 2026/03/26
Perihelion occurred in 2022 at Ls 251 on Sol 485 - Earth Date 2022/06/21 Next: (actual) 2024/05/08
Aphelion Earth Dates: Next: 2027/03/04 Earlier: 2025/04/16, 2023/05/30, 2021/07/12, 2019/08/25, 2017/10/07, 2015/11/20
Aphelion occurred at--- Ls 071 on Sol 152.
Aphelion occurred near Ls 070 on Sol 153 (per http://www.planetary.org)
Note#3: The computations below are dependent upon both the computations provided by the reference web site and by accuracy of recording of the time of observations. The calculations use tenths of hours. The Sun Distance needs to be captured at the moment the time increments to a given tenth.
Note on data below: The figure quoted after distance is a rate of progress along the orbital path [exact meaning to be determined]
Minus prefix means Mars is approaching the Sun. Plus prefix means Mars is moving away from the Sun.
The figure computed to the right of "Difference" is the rate of change of the distance to Sun. Increasing to Aphelion/Decreasing to Perihelion.
Aphelion of Mars is due March 04, 2027 Sol 151-152 Note velocity of Mars was 22.0 km/s nearing Aphelion (21.97 km/s)
Perhelion of Mars is due May, 2028 Sol 251 Note velocity of Mars was 26.5 km/s nearing Perhelion 2026/03/26
===
Distance: Mars >> Sun per theskylive.com: 223,376,951 km [24.6 km/s] Difference is +194056 <= +8086 km/hour at 12.0 on 08/11 (time 12:00) (24.0 hours)
Distance: Mars >> Sun per theskylive.com: 223,182,895 km [24.6 km/s] Difference is +193766 <= +8074 km/hour at 12.0 on 08/10 (time 12:00) (24.0 hours)
Distance: Mars >> Sun per theskylive.com: 222,989,129 km [24.7 km/s] Difference is +193512 <= +8063 km/hour at 12.0 on 08/09 (time 12:00) (24.0 hours)
>13
Velocity along the orbit is NOT the same thing as velocity change of the radial distance to the Sun. Both are shown in the section above.
Observation: The sky view is ** filled ** with objects and some have been recorded and given identification by humans or their robot assistants
And! ** All ** the location assignments are from the perspective of Earth. The entire catalog needs to be adjusted when inter-stellar travel begins
The work that lies ahead for the astronomical community is daunting - there is work ahead for centuries
2022/01/19 - All current (existing) stellar catalogs are computed with reference to the Earth. Another civilization would use it's planet as reference.
Perhaps a Milky Way frame of reference will become necessary at some point. The Earth is as good a Zero point as any, for humans.
=== Mars is in Regular movement as seen from Earth.
Mars is in Taurus
Next ahead: Two bright TYC’s in/above path: TYC 1864-564-1 RA 6h 01m 29.2s
bright TYC Magnitude m7.67 TYC 1863-1257-1 Day 2 5 hours past marker
14>
Zoom Out Capability As a general observation ... I've become increasingly interested in knowing what the larger view of the sky might be like.
The site: theskylive.com does a terrific job of matching the view from Earth towards Mars, against a background of actual astronomical plates.
I wish there were a way (or rather, I wish I ** knew ** about a way that may exist) to enlarge the view until the entire galaxy is in view (Zoom out)
Update 2022/12/08 TheSkyLive.com provides a large view of selected objects: Select [Major Bodies] Then select [Information] in the body of interest
Update 2022/12/08 Scroll down to (body) Position and Finder Charts. Field of view is 50x30 degrees.
Light travel in one second is (about) 300,000 kilometers. The distance covered in one minute is about 18,000,000 kilometers. Estimated light times:
1:18,2:36,3:54,4:72,5:90,6:108,7:126,8:144,9:162,10:180,11:198,12:216,13:234,14:252,15:270,16:288,17:306,18:324, 19:342,20:360,21:378,22:396
Light travel time today is between 17 and 18 minutes. Communications delay would be 34+ minutes round trip.
=== Time estimate will change below 288 megaKm
Earth Distance in km: 2026/08/11 292,057,057 (decreasing)
Earth Distance in km: 2026/08/10 292,732,363 (decreasing)
Earth Distance in km: 2026/08/09 293,400,888 (decreasing)
6<#
Maximum Earth-Mars distance is estimated to be 401 million kilometers (both at apogee and opposite vs Sun) Minimum is about 56 million kilometers
Mars and Earth were in Opposition (Earth center) in December of 2022. The date coincided with a (very rare) occultation of Mars by the Moon.
Mars and Earth were in Conjunction (Sun center) in November of 2023.
Mars and Earth appear to have been as close as they will get in Year 36. 81,454,323 kilometers on J0036644 Time: 4.53 minutes - 9 minutes round trip
In his online interview with Dr. Zubrin at the 2020 Mars Conference, Elon Musk reminded the audience that communications with Mars will necessarily include an intermediary station to handle traffic when the Sun is between Mars and Earth. Communications delays in that circumstance will increase due to the extra distance to be covered. Mr. Musk indicated he expects such communication will be handled by laser. Location would be optimum at poles of solar plane.
This web site offers an online model of the solar system: www.solarsystemscope.com
This web site offers an online orrery view of the Solar System: https://www.theplanetstoday.com/
===
Sol 620 is in Month 23 of a Proposed 24 month calendar. See Post 19 of Holidays topic for a summary. <<< 595 is skip day on Mars
Month 23 extends from Sol 614 through 651. <<== There are 28 days in Month 23. See post 82 of Holidays topic for current details.
Direct path to source: http://newmars.com/forums/viewtopic.php … 57#p154257
Sol 620 is Saturday in the Proposed Business calendar for Mars. Sol 595 Skip Day on Mars. Next is near 632 of Year 38 595
##
The Next New Year's on Mars will occur when Solar Longitude reaches 360 degrees. Year 38 started November 12, 2024 on Earth
Per www.planetary.org Year 36 started 2021/02/07 on Earth. Mars Year 37 began 2022/12/27 on Earth.
Days of the Week Alignment:
Days of the week fall behind Earth due to the longer Sol, but they also change when Friday is omitted at the end of a Quarter
337 Earth days were observed to elapse in the 2020 weekday cycle. There were 7 week day transitions and 2 Quarter ends.
The next cycle began on the first Sol of the period of coincidence. The alignment of weekdays interval is in the range: (310 - 337)
To find the first day of a period of coincidence: Set up: SearchTerm(colon) and (colon)Alignment and J0036* or J0037*
The most recent End-Of-Quarter change occurred: … The search specified above gave 11 pages of results.
For current weather on Mars see:
***https://mars.nasa.gov/insight/weather/***
***Insight's weather info has been suspended and now is directing to msl*** <<-- Insight's mission is over (2022)
https://mars.nasa.gov/msl/weather/
Per SpaceNut: Here is another web page by NASA containing the latest news releases
https://mars.nasa.gov/news/?page=0&per_ … ope=Latest
All forum members are invited to post significant events for this day.
Events of interest will be ON Mars, or relate to Mars. Examples are launches, landings, discoveries
Standard Month in Mars Business Calendar Copyright ® 2023 NewMars.com Mars Society
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
Recruiting text may be found at the bottom of this post: http://newmars.com/forums/viewtopic.php … 57#p154257
Copyright the Mars Society All Rights Reserved
Month 23 of 24: <<== Fifth month of Quarter 4 Note start of Astromical Month 12 in Year 38
Offline
Like button can go here
Place holder for today's Calendar update:
[51.4792N, 0.0000E] 08/12/2026, 13:00:00 Europe/London
Object: Mars [open sky map]
RA 06h 03m 18.3s Dec +23° 41' 02.2" Appar J2000
Mag: 1.26 (Estimated: JPL) Const: Gemini
Current ID 240889
Total number of registered users: 19,630
Total number of topics: 9,099
Total number of posts: 236,569
Newest registered user: Redfoot-2026
Registered users online: 1
Guests online: 80
Online: tahanson43206
Offline
Like button can go here
===
Today on Mars: 0038/23/08 Sunday Days of the week OFFSET 3 with Earth. (count from Mars to Earth )
Sol 621 Business Month 23 Fourth month of Quarter 4 of Year 38
Today on Earth: 2026/08/12 Wednesday Earth Date)
>16
To see how this calendar works, we show the standard 28 day month at the bottom of this daily report.
There are 20 months of 28 Sols and 4 months of 27 Sols at the end of the four six-month quarters.
New Years Eve is extended to align the Business Calendar for Mars with the Astronomical calendar.
Business and Astronomical both start at zero (to the nanosecond) on New Year's Day.
This calendar has been in operation for two full Mars years (36 and 37). We are in Year 38
This calendar is NOT the Darian Calendar!
Per http://www-mars.lmd.jussieu.fr/mars/tim … _time.html also see: in-the-sky.org for opposition/perigee/aphelion
Martian Year: 38 Martian Astronomical Interval in 12 interval format: 12 <<== The Astronomical interval
Check Longitude: the interval will increment when longitude reaches 360 degrees
===
Solar Longitude: 334.2 Sol Number: 621 Change in degrees is +.6 Julian date is: J0038621
Solar Longitude: 333.6 Sol Number: 620 Change in degrees is +.5 Julian date is: J0038620
Solar Longitude: 333.1 Sol Number: 619 Change in degrees is +.6 Julian date is: J0038619
#4>
Note that Solar Longitude measurement varies as a function of location in orbit. Ls 0 is the moment when the Sun appears to transit from one hemisphere to the other. Update from Mars.NASA.gov (The Sun crosses the equator of Mars (Vernal Equinox)). The transition itself is a function of the tilt of an object with respect to the Solar plane. Per squarewidget.com, Hipparchus created the celestial coordinate system we use today.
Note#2: https://theskylive.com/mars-tracker This web site shows the astronomical position of Mars as seen from Earth
Todo: At next Aphelion/Perihelion record the Mars date as J00##### (and set Search term)
Perihelion occurred in 2026 at Ls 251 on Sol 486 - Earth Date 2026/03/27 Next: (estimated) 2028/05/15
Perihelion occurred in 2024 at Ls 251 on Sol 485 - Earth Date 2024/05/08 Next: (estimated) 2026/03/06 (actual) 2026/03/26
Perihelion occurred in 2022 at Ls 251 on Sol 485 - Earth Date 2022/06/21 Next: (actual) 2024/05/08
Aphelion Earth Dates: Next: 2027/03/04 Earlier: 2025/04/16, 2023/05/30, 2021/07/12, 2019/08/25, 2017/10/07, 2015/11/20
Aphelion occurred at--- Ls 071 on Sol 152.
Aphelion occurred near Ls 070 on Sol 153 (per http://www.planetary.org)
Note#3: The computations below are dependent upon both the computations provided by the reference web site and by accuracy of recording of the time of observations. The calculations use tenths of hours. The Sun Distance needs to be captured at the moment the time increments to a given tenth.
Note on data below: The figure quoted after distance is a rate of progress along the orbital path [exact meaning to be determined]
Minus prefix means Mars is approaching the Sun. Plus prefix means Mars is moving away from the Sun.
The figure computed to the right of "Difference" is the rate of change of the distance to Sun. Increasing to Aphelion/Decreasing to Perihelion.
Aphelion of Mars is due March 04, 2027 Sol 151-152 Note velocity of Mars was 22.0 km/s nearing Aphelion (21.97 km/s)
Perhelion of Mars is due May, 2028 Sol 251 Note velocity of Mars was 26.5 km/s nearing Perhelion 2026/03/26
===
Distance: Mars >> Sun per theskylive.com: 223,571,201 km [24.6 km/s] Difference is +194250 <= +8094 km/hour at 12.0 on 08/12 (time 12:00) (24.0 hours)
Distance: Mars >> Sun per theskylive.com: 223,376,951 km [24.6 km/s] Difference is +194056 <= +8086 km/hour at 12.0 on 08/11 (time 12:00) (24.0 hours)
Distance: Mars >> Sun per theskylive.com: 223,182,895 km [24.6 km/s] Difference is +193766 <= +8074 km/hour at 12.0 on 08/10 (time 12:00) (24.0 hours)
>13
Velocity along the orbit is NOT the same thing as velocity change of the radial distance to the Sun. Both are shown in the section above.
Observation: The sky view is ** filled ** with objects and some have been recorded and given identification by humans or their robot assistants
And! ** All ** the location assignments are from the perspective of Earth. The entire catalog needs to be adjusted when inter-stellar travel begins
The work that lies ahead for the astronomical community is daunting - there is work ahead for centuries
2022/01/19 - All current (existing) stellar catalogs are computed with reference to the Earth. Another civilization would use it's planet as reference.
Perhaps a Milky Way frame of reference will become necessary at some point. The Earth is as good a Zero point as any, for humans.
=== Mars is in Regular movement as seen from Earth.
Mars is in Taurus
Next ahead: Star in path TYC 1864-1748-1 RA 06h 03m 49.7s
Two bright TYC’s in/above path: TYC 1864-564-1 RA 6h 01m 29.2s Day 2 above 4.5 hours marker
14>
Zoom Out Capability As a general observation ... I've become increasingly interested in knowing what the larger view of the sky might be like.
The site: theskylive.com does a terrific job of matching the view from Earth towards Mars, against a background of actual astronomical plates.
I wish there were a way (or rather, I wish I ** knew ** about a way that may exist) to enlarge the view until the entire galaxy is in view (Zoom out)
Update 2022/12/08 TheSkyLive.com provides a large view of selected objects: Select [Major Bodies] Then select [Information] in the body of interest
Update 2022/12/08 Scroll down to (body) Position and Finder Charts. Field of view is 50x30 degrees.
Light travel in one second is (about) 300,000 kilometers. The distance covered in one minute is about 18,000,000 kilometers. Estimated light times:
1:18,2:36,3:54,4:72,5:90,6:108,7:126,8:144,9:162,10:180,11:198,12:216,13:234,14:252,15:270,16:288,17:306,18:324, 19:342,20:360,21:378,22:396
Light travel time today is between 17 and 18 minutes. Communications delay would be 34+ minutes round trip.
=== Time estimate will change below 288 megaKm
Earth Distance in km: 2026/08/12 291,375,225 (decreasing)
Earth Distance in km: 2026/08/11 292,057,057 (decreasing)
Earth Distance in km: 2026/08/10 292,732,363 (decreasing)
6<#
Maximum Earth-Mars distance is estimated to be 401 million kilometers (both at apogee and opposite vs Sun) Minimum is about 56 million kilometers
Mars and Earth were in Opposition (Earth center) in December of 2022. The date coincided with a (very rare) occultation of Mars by the Moon.
Mars and Earth were in Conjunction (Sun center) in November of 2023.
Mars and Earth appear to have been as close as they will get in Year 36. 81,454,323 kilometers on J0036644 Time: 4.53 minutes - 9 minutes round trip
In his online interview with Dr. Zubrin at the 2020 Mars Conference, Elon Musk reminded the audience that communications with Mars will necessarily include an intermediary station to handle traffic when the Sun is between Mars and Earth. Communications delays in that circumstance will increase due to the extra distance to be covered. Mr. Musk indicated he expects such communication will be handled by laser. Location would be optimum at poles of solar plane.
This web site offers an online model of the solar system: www.solarsystemscope.com
This web site offers an online orrery view of the Solar System: https://www.theplanetstoday.com/
===
Sol 621 is in Month 23 of a Proposed 24 month calendar. See Post 19 of Holidays topic for a summary. <<< 595 is skip day on Mars
Month 23 extends from Sol 614 through 651. <<== There are 28 days in Month 23. See post 82 of Holidays topic for current details.
Direct path to source: http://newmars.com/forums/viewtopic.php … 57#p154257
Sol 621 is Sunday in the Proposed Business calendar for Mars. Sol 595 Skip Day on Mars. Next is near 632 of Year 38 595
##
The Next New Year's on Mars will occur when Solar Longitude reaches 360 degrees. Year 38 started November 12, 2024 on Earth
Per www.planetary.org Year 36 started 2021/02/07 on Earth. Mars Year 37 began 2022/12/27 on Earth.
Days of the Week Alignment:
Days of the week fall behind Earth due to the longer Sol, but they also change when Friday is omitted at the end of a Quarter
337 Earth days were observed to elapse in the 2020 weekday cycle. There were 7 week day transitions and 2 Quarter ends.
The next cycle began on the first Sol of the period of coincidence. The alignment of weekdays interval is in the range: (310 - 337)
To find the first day of a period of coincidence: Set up: SearchTerm(colon) and (colon)Alignment and J0036* or J0037*
The most recent End-Of-Quarter change occurred: … The search specified above gave 11 pages of results.
For current weather on Mars see:
***https://mars.nasa.gov/insight/weather/***
***Insight's weather info has been suspended and now is directing to msl*** <<-- Insight's mission is over (2022)
https://mars.nasa.gov/msl/weather/
Per SpaceNut: Here is another web page by NASA containing the latest news releases
https://mars.nasa.gov/news/?page=0&per_ … ope=Latest
All forum members are invited to post significant events for this day.
Events of interest will be ON Mars, or relate to Mars. Examples are launches, landings, discoveries
Standard Month in Mars Business Calendar Copyright ® 2023 NewMars.com Mars Society
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
Recruiting text may be found at the bottom of this post: http://newmars.com/forums/viewtopic.php … 57#p154257
Copyright the Mars Society All Rights Reserved
Month 23 of 24: <<== Fifth month of Quarter 4 Note start of Astromical Month 12 in Year 38
Offline
Like button can go here
Place holder for today's Calendar update
[51.4792N, 0.0000E] 08/13/2026, 13:00:01 Europe/London
Object: Mars [open sky map]
RA 06h 06m 11.8s Dec +23° 41' 33.5" Appar J2000
Mag: 1.25 (Estimated: JPL) Const: Gemini
Current ID: 240905
Total number of registered users: 19,630
Total number of topics: 9,099
Total number of posts: 236,585
Newest registered user: Redfoot-2026
Registered users online: 1
Guests online: 81
Online: tahanson43206
Offline
Like button can go here
===
Today on Mars: 0038/23/09 Monday Days of the week OFFSET 3 with Earth. (count from Mars to Earth )
Sol 622 Business Month 23 Fourth month of Quarter 4 of Year 38
Today on Earth: 2026/08/13 Thursday Earth Date)
>16
To see how this calendar works, we show the standard 28 day month at the bottom of this daily report.
There are 20 months of 28 Sols and 4 months of 27 Sols at the end of the four six-month quarters.
New Years Eve is extended to align the Business Calendar for Mars with the Astronomical calendar.
Business and Astronomical both start at zero (to the nanosecond) on New Year's Day.
This calendar has been in operation for two full Mars years (36 and 37). We are in Year 38
This calendar is NOT the Darian Calendar!
Per http://www-mars.lmd.jussieu.fr/mars/tim … _time.html also see: in-the-sky.org for opposition/perigee/aphelion
Martian Year: 38 Martian Astronomical Interval in 12 interval format: 12 <<== The Astronomical interval
Check Longitude: the interval will increment when longitude reaches 360 degrees
===
Solar Longitude: 334.7 Sol Number: 622 Change in degrees is +.5 Julian date is: J0038622
Solar Longitude: 334.2 Sol Number: 621 Change in degrees is +.6 Julian date is: J0038621
Solar Longitude: 333.6 Sol Number: 620 Change in degrees is +.5 Julian date is: J0038620
#4>
Note that Solar Longitude measurement varies as a function of location in orbit. Ls 0 is the moment when the Sun appears to transit from one hemisphere to the other. Update from Mars.NASA.gov (The Sun crosses the equator of Mars (Vernal Equinox)). The transition itself is a function of the tilt of an object with respect to the Solar plane. Per squarewidget.com, Hipparchus created the celestial coordinate system we use today.
Note#2: https://theskylive.com/mars-tracker This web site shows the astronomical position of Mars as seen from Earth
Todo: At next Aphelion/Perihelion record the Mars date as J00##### (and set Search term)
Perihelion occurred in 2026 at Ls 251 on Sol 486 - Earth Date 2026/03/27 Next: (estimated) 2028/05/15
Perihelion occurred in 2024 at Ls 251 on Sol 485 - Earth Date 2024/05/08 Next: (estimated) 2026/03/06 (actual) 2026/03/26
Perihelion occurred in 2022 at Ls 251 on Sol 485 - Earth Date 2022/06/21 Next: (actual) 2024/05/08
Aphelion Earth Dates: Next: 2027/03/04 Earlier: 2025/04/16, 2023/05/30, 2021/07/12, 2019/08/25, 2017/10/07, 2015/11/20
Aphelion occurred at--- Ls 071 on Sol 152.
Aphelion occurred near Ls 070 on Sol 153 (per http://www.planetary.org)
Note#3: The computations below are dependent upon both the computations provided by the reference web site and by accuracy of recording of the time of observations. The calculations use tenths of hours. The Sun Distance needs to be captured at the moment the time increments to a given tenth.
Note on data below: The figure quoted after distance is a rate of progress along the orbital path [exact meaning to be determined]
Minus prefix means Mars is approaching the Sun. Plus prefix means Mars is moving away from the Sun.
The figure computed to the right of "Difference" is the rate of change of the distance to Sun. Increasing to Aphelion/Decreasing to Perihelion.
Aphelion of Mars is due March 04, 2027 Sol 151-152 Note velocity of Mars was 22.0 km/s nearing Aphelion (21.97 km/s)
Perhelion of Mars is due May, 2028 Sol 251 Note velocity of Mars was 26.5 km/s nearing Perhelion 2026/03/26
===
Distance: Mars >> Sun per theskylive.com: 223,765,680 km [24.6 km/s] Difference is +194480 <= +8103 km/hour at 12.0 on 08/13 (time 12:00) (24.0 hours)
Distance: Mars >> Sun per theskylive.com: 223,571,201 km [24.6 km/s] Difference is +194250 <= +8094 km/hour at 12.0 on 08/12 (time 12:00) (24.0 hours)
Distance: Mars >> Sun per theskylive.com: 223,376,951 km [24.6 km/s] Difference is +194056 <= +8086 km/hour at 12.0 on 08/11 (time 12:00) (24.0 hours)
>13
Velocity along the orbit is NOT the same thing as velocity change of the radial distance to the Sun. Both are shown in the section above.
Observation: The sky view is ** filled ** with objects and some have been recorded and given identification by humans or their robot assistants
And! ** All ** the location assignments are from the perspective of Earth. The entire catalog needs to be adjusted when inter-stellar travel begins
The work that lies ahead for the astronomical community is daunting - there is work ahead for centuries
2022/01/19 - All current (existing) stellar catalogs are computed with reference to the Earth. Another civilization would use it's planet as reference.
Perhaps a Milky Way frame of reference will become necessary at some point. The Earth is as good a Zero point as any, for humans.
=== Mars is in Regular movement as seen from Earth.
Mars is in Taurus
Next ahead: mini-Boomer HIP 28969 RA 6h 6m 48.7s
Star in path TYC 1864-1748-1 RA 06h 03m 49.7s Day 2 Right at 10 hours past marker
14>
Zoom Out Capability As a general observation ... I've become increasingly interested in knowing what the larger view of the sky might be like.
The site: theskylive.com does a terrific job of matching the view from Earth towards Mars, against a background of actual astronomical plates.
I wish there were a way (or rather, I wish I ** knew ** about a way that may exist) to enlarge the view until the entire galaxy is in view (Zoom out)
Update 2022/12/08 TheSkyLive.com provides a large view of selected objects: Select [Major Bodies] Then select [Information] in the body of interest
Update 2022/12/08 Scroll down to (body) Position and Finder Charts. Field of view is 50x30 degrees.
Light travel in one second is (about) 300,000 kilometers. The distance covered in one minute is about 18,000,000 kilometers. Estimated light times:
1:18,2:36,3:54,4:72,5:90,6:108,7:126,8:144,9:162,10:180,11:198,12:216,13:234,14:252,15:270,16:288,17:306,18:324, 19:342,20:360,21:378,22:396
Light travel time today is between 17 and 18 minutes. Communications delay would be 34+ minutes round trip.
=== Time estimate will change below 288 megaKm
Earth Distance in km: 2026/08/13 290,686,701 (decreasing)
Earth Distance in km: 2026/08/12 291,375,225 (decreasing)
Earth Distance in km: 2026/08/11 292,057,057 (decreasing)
6<#
Maximum Earth-Mars distance is estimated to be 401 million kilometers (both at apogee and opposite vs Sun) Minimum is about 56 million kilometers
Mars and Earth were in Opposition (Earth center) in December of 2022. The date coincided with a (very rare) occultation of Mars by the Moon.
Mars and Earth were in Conjunction (Sun center) in November of 2023.
Mars and Earth appear to have been as close as they will get in Year 36. 81,454,323 kilometers on J0036644 Time: 4.53 minutes - 9 minutes round trip
In his online interview with Dr. Zubrin at the 2020 Mars Conference, Elon Musk reminded the audience that communications with Mars will necessarily include an intermediary station to handle traffic when the Sun is between Mars and Earth. Communications delays in that circumstance will increase due to the extra distance to be covered. Mr. Musk indicated he expects such communication will be handled by laser. Location would be optimum at poles of solar plane.
This web site offers an online model of the solar system: www.solarsystemscope.com
This web site offers an online orrery view of the Solar System: https://www.theplanetstoday.com/
===
Sol 622 is in Month 23 of a Proposed 24 month calendar. See Post 19 of Holidays topic for a summary. <<< 595 is skip day on Mars
Month 23 extends from Sol 614 through 651. <<== There are 28 days in Month 23. See post 82 of Holidays topic for current details.
Direct path to source: http://newmars.com/forums/viewtopic.php … 57#p154257
Sol 622 is Monday in the Proposed Business calendar for Mars. Sol 595 Skip Day on Mars. Next is near 632 of Year 38 595
##
The Next New Year's on Mars will occur when Solar Longitude reaches 360 degrees. Year 38 started November 12, 2024 on Earth
Per www.planetary.org Year 36 started 2021/02/07 on Earth. Mars Year 37 began 2022/12/27 on Earth.
Days of the Week Alignment:
Days of the week fall behind Earth due to the longer Sol, but they also change when Friday is omitted at the end of a Quarter
337 Earth days were observed to elapse in the 2020 weekday cycle. There were 7 week day transitions and 2 Quarter ends.
The next cycle began on the first Sol of the period of coincidence. The alignment of weekdays interval is in the range: (310 - 337)
To find the first day of a period of coincidence: Set up: SearchTerm(colon) and (colon)Alignment and J0036* or J0037*
The most recent End-Of-Quarter change occurred: … The search specified above gave 11 pages of results.
For current weather on Mars see:
***https://mars.nasa.gov/insight/weather/***
***Insight's weather info has been suspended and now is directing to msl*** <<-- Insight's mission is over (2022)
https://mars.nasa.gov/msl/weather/
Per SpaceNut: Here is another web page by NASA containing the latest news releases
https://mars.nasa.gov/news/?page=0&per_ … ope=Latest
All forum members are invited to post significant events for this day.
Events of interest will be ON Mars, or relate to Mars. Examples are launches, landings, discoveries
Standard Month in Mars Business Calendar Copyright ® 2023 NewMars.com Mars Society
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
Recruiting text may be found at the bottom of this post: http://newmars.com/forums/viewtopic.php … 57#p154257
Copyright the Mars Society All Rights Reserved
Month 23 of 24: <<== Fifth month of Quarter 4 Note start of Astromical Month 12 in Year 38
Offline
Like button can go here
Place holder for today's Calendar update:
51.4792N, 0.0000E] 08/14/2026, 13:00:00 Europe/London
Object: Mars [open sky map]
RA 06h 09m 04.3s Dec +23° 41' 52.8" Appar J2000
Mag: 1.25 (Estimated: JPL) Const: Gemini
Current ID: 240925
Total number of registered users: 19,630
Total number of topics: 9,100
Total number of posts: 236,605
Newest registered user: Redfoot-2026
Registered users online: 1
Guests online: 152
Online: tahanson43206
Offline
Like button can go here
===
Today on Mars: 0038/23/10 Tuesday Days of the week OFFSET 3 with Earth. (count from Mars to Earth )
Sol 623 Business Month 23 Fourth month of Quarter 4 of Year 38
Today on Earth: 2026/08/14 Friday Earth Date)
>16
To see how this calendar works, we show the standard 28 day month at the bottom of this daily report.
There are 20 months of 28 Sols and 4 months of 27 Sols at the end of the four six-month quarters.
New Years Eve is extended to align the Business Calendar for Mars with the Astronomical calendar.
Business and Astronomical both start at zero (to the nanosecond) on New Year's Day.
This calendar has been in operation for two full Mars years (36 and 37). We are in Year 38
This calendar is NOT the Darian Calendar!
Per http://www-mars.lmd.jussieu.fr/mars/tim … _time.html also see: in-the-sky.org for opposition/perigee/aphelion
Martian Year: 38 Martian Astronomical Interval in 12 interval format: 12 <<== The Astronomical interval
Check Longitude: the interval will increment when longitude reaches 360 degrees
===
Solar Longitude: 335.3 Sol Number: 623 Change in degrees is +.6 Julian date is: J0038623
Solar Longitude: 334.7 Sol Number: 622 Change in degrees is +.5 Julian date is: J0038622
Solar Longitude: 334.2 Sol Number: 621 Change in degrees is +.6 Julian date is: J0038621
#3>
Note that Solar Longitude measurement varies as a function of location in orbit. Ls 0 is the moment when the Sun appears to transit from one hemisphere to the other. Update from Mars.NASA.gov (The Sun crosses the equator of Mars (Vernal Equinox)). The transition itself is a function of the tilt of an object with respect to the Solar plane. Per squarewidget.com, Hipparchus created the celestial coordinate system we use today.
Note#2: https://theskylive.com/mars-tracker This web site shows the astronomical position of Mars as seen from Earth
Todo: At next Aphelion/Perihelion record the Mars date as J00##### (and set Search term)
Perihelion occurred in 2026 at Ls 251 on Sol 486 - Earth Date 2026/03/27 Next: (estimated) 2028/05/15
Perihelion occurred in 2024 at Ls 251 on Sol 485 - Earth Date 2024/05/08 Next: (estimated) 2026/03/06 (actual) 2026/03/26
Perihelion occurred in 2022 at Ls 251 on Sol 485 - Earth Date 2022/06/21 Next: (actual) 2024/05/08
Aphelion Earth Dates: Next: 2027/03/04 Earlier: 2025/04/16, 2023/05/30, 2021/07/12, 2019/08/25, 2017/10/07, 2015/11/20
Aphelion occurred at--- Ls 071 on Sol 152.
Aphelion occurred near Ls 070 on Sol 153 (per http://www.planetary.org)
Note#3: The computations below are dependent upon both the computations provided by the reference web site and by accuracy of recording of the time of observations. The calculations use tenths of hours. The Sun Distance needs to be captured at the moment the time increments to a given tenth.
Note on data below: The figure quoted after distance is a rate of progress along the orbital path [exact meaning to be determined]
Minus prefix means Mars is approaching the Sun. Plus prefix means Mars is moving away from the Sun.
The figure computed to the right of "Difference" is the rate of change of the distance to Sun. Increasing to Aphelion/Decreasing to Perihelion.
Aphelion of Mars is due March 04, 2027 Sol 151-152 Note velocity of Mars was 22.0 km/s nearing Aphelion (21.97 km/s)
Perhelion of Mars is due May, 2028 Sol 251 Note velocity of Mars was 26.5 km/s nearing Perhelion 2026/03/26
===
Distance: Mars >> Sun per theskylive.com: 223,960,347 km [24.6 km/s] Difference is +194667 <= +8111 km/hour at 12.0 on 08/14 (time 12:00) (24.0 hours)
Distance: Mars >> Sun per theskylive.com: 223,765,680 km [24.6 km/s] Difference is +194480 <= +8103 km/hour at 12.0 on 08/13 (time 12:00) (24.0 hours)
Distance: Mars >> Sun per theskylive.com: 223,571,201 km [24.6 km/s] Difference is +194250 <= +8094 km/hour at 12.0 on 08/12 (time 12:00) (24.0 hours)
>13
Velocity along the orbit is NOT the same thing as velocity change of the radial distance to the Sun. Both are shown in the section above.
Observation: The sky view is ** filled ** with objects and some have been recorded and given identification by humans or their robot assistants
And! ** All ** the location assignments are from the perspective of Earth. The entire catalog needs to be adjusted when inter-stellar travel begins
The work that lies ahead for the astronomical community is daunting - there is work ahead for centuries
2022/01/19 - All current (existing) stellar catalogs are computed with reference to the Earth. Another civilization would use it's planet as reference.
Perhaps a Milky Way frame of reference will become necessary at some point. The Earth is as good a Zero point as any, for humans.
=== Mars is in Regular movement as seen from Earth.
Mars is in Taurus
Next ahead: Star in path TYC 1877-868-1 RA 6h 9m 44.9s
mini-Boomer HIP 28969 RA 6h 6m 48.7s Day 2 between 5 and 10 markers
14>
Zoom Out Capability As a general observation ... I've become increasingly interested in knowing what the larger view of the sky might be like.
The site: theskylive.com does a terrific job of matching the view from Earth towards Mars, against a background of actual astronomical plates.
I wish there were a way (or rather, I wish I ** knew ** about a way that may exist) to enlarge the view until the entire galaxy is in view (Zoom out)
Update 2022/12/08 TheSkyLive.com provides a large view of selected objects: Select [Major Bodies] Then select [Information] in the body of interest
Update 2022/12/08 Scroll down to (body) Position and Finder Charts. Field of view is 50x30 degrees.
Light travel in one second is (about) 300,000 kilometers. The distance covered in one minute is about 18,000,000 kilometers. Estimated light times:
1:18,2:36,3:54,4:72,5:90,6:108,7:126,8:144,9:162,10:180,11:198,12:216,13:234,14:252,15:270,16:288,17:306,18:324, 19:342,20:360,21:378,22:396
Light travel time today is between 17 and 18 minutes. Communications delay would be 34+ minutes round trip.
=== Time estimate will change below 288 megaKm
Earth Distance in km: 2026/08/14 289,991,572 (decreasing)
Earth Distance in km: 2026/08/13 290,686,701 (decreasing)
Earth Distance in km: 2026/08/12 291,375,225 (decreasing)
>15
Maximum Earth-Mars distance is estimated to be 401 million kilometers (both at apogee and opposite vs Sun) Minimum is about 56 million kilometers
Mars and Earth were in Opposition (Earth center) in December of 2022. The date coincided with a (very rare) occultation of Mars by the Moon.
Mars and Earth were in Conjunction (Sun center) in November of 2023.
Mars and Earth appear to have been as close as they will get in Year 36. 81,454,323 kilometers on J0036644 Time: 4.53 minutes - 9 minutes round trip
In his online interview with Dr. Zubrin at the 2020 Mars Conference, Elon Musk reminded the audience that communications with Mars will necessarily include an intermediary station to handle traffic when the Sun is between Mars and Earth. Communications delays in that circumstance will increase due to the extra distance to be covered. Mr. Musk indicated he expects such communication will be handled by laser. Location would be optimum at poles of solar plane.
This web site offers an online model of the solar system: www.solarsystemscope.com
This web site offers an online orrery view of the Solar System: https://www.theplanetstoday.com/
===
Sol 623 is in Month 23 of a Proposed 24 month calendar. See Post 19 of Holidays topic for a summary. <<< 595 is skip day on Mars
Month 23 extends from Sol 614 through 651. <<== There are 28 days in Month 23. See post 82 of Holidays topic for current details.
Direct path to source: http://newmars.com/forums/viewtopic.php … 57#p154257
Sol 623 is Tuesday in the Proposed Business calendar for Mars. Sol 595 Skip Day on Mars. Next is near 632 of Year 38 595
##
The Next New Year's on Mars will occur when Solar Longitude reaches 360 degrees. Year 38 started November 12, 2024 on Earth
Per www.planetary.org Year 36 started 2021/02/07 on Earth. Mars Year 37 began 2022/12/27 on Earth.
Days of the Week Alignment:
Days of the week fall behind Earth due to the longer Sol, but they also change when Friday is omitted at the end of a Quarter
337 Earth days were observed to elapse in the 2020 weekday cycle. There were 7 week day transitions and 2 Quarter ends.
The next cycle began on the first Sol of the period of coincidence. The alignment of weekdays interval is in the range: (310 - 337)
To find the first day of a period of coincidence: Set up: SearchTerm(colon) and (colon)Alignment and J0036* or J0037*
The most recent End-Of-Quarter change occurred: … The search specified above gave 11 pages of results.
For current weather on Mars see:
***https://mars.nasa.gov/insight/weather/***
***Insight's weather info has been suspended and now is directing to msl*** <<-- Insight's mission is over (2022)
https://mars.nasa.gov/msl/weather/
Per SpaceNut: Here is another web page by NASA containing the latest news releases
https://mars.nasa.gov/news/?page=0&per_ … ope=Latest
All forum members are invited to post significant events for this day.
Events of interest will be ON Mars, or relate to Mars. Examples are launches, landings, discoveries
Standard Month in Mars Business Calendar Copyright ® 2023 NewMars.com Mars Society
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
Recruiting text may be found at the bottom of this post: http://newmars.com/forums/viewtopic.php … 57#p154257
Copyright the Mars Society All Rights Reserved
Month 23 of 24: <<== Fifth month of Quarter 4 Note start of Astromical Month 12 in Year 38
Offline
Like button can go here
Place holder for today's Calendar update
[51.4792N, 0.0000E] 08/15/2026, 13:00:41 Europe/London
No report due to maintenance at theskylive.com
Current ID: 240943
Total number of registered users: 19,630
Total number of topics: 9,101
Total number of posts: 236,623
Newest registered user: Redfoot-2026
Registered users online: 1
Guests online: 143
Online: tahanson43206
Offline
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===
Today on Mars: 0038/23/11 Wednesday Days of the week OFFSET 3 with Earth. (count from Mars to Earth )
Sol 624 Business Month 23 Fourth month of Quarter 4 of Year 38
Today on Earth: 2026/08/15 Saturday Earth Date)
>16
To see how this calendar works, we show the standard 28 day month at the bottom of this daily report.
There are 20 months of 28 Sols and 4 months of 27 Sols at the end of the four six-month quarters.
New Years Eve is extended to align the Business Calendar for Mars with the Astronomical calendar.
Business and Astronomical both start at zero (to the nanosecond) on New Year's Day.
This calendar has been in operation for two full Mars years (36 and 37). We are in Year 38
This calendar is NOT the Darian Calendar!
Per http://www-mars.lmd.jussieu.fr/mars/tim … _time.html also see: in-the-sky.org for opposition/perigee/aphelion
Martian Year: 38 Martian Astronomical Interval in 12 interval format: 12 <<== The Astronomical interval
Check Longitude: the interval will increment when longitude reaches 360 degrees
===
Solar Longitude: 335.8 Sol Number: 624 Change in degrees is +.6 Julian date is: J0038624
Solar Longitude: 335.3 Sol Number: 623 Change in degrees is +.6 Julian date is: J0038623
Solar Longitude: 334.7 Sol Number: 622 Change in degrees is +.5 Julian date is: J0038622
#3>
Note that Solar Longitude measurement varies as a function of location in orbit. Ls 0 is the moment when the Sun appears to transit from one hemisphere to the other. Update from Mars.NASA.gov (The Sun crosses the equator of Mars (Vernal Equinox)). The transition itself is a function of the tilt of an object with respect to the Solar plane. Per squarewidget.com, Hipparchus created the celestial coordinate system we use today.
Note#2: https://theskylive.com/mars-tracker This web site shows the astronomical position of Mars as seen from Earth
Todo: At next Aphelion/Perihelion record the Mars date as J00##### (and set Search term)
Perihelion occurred in 2026 at Ls 251 on Sol 486 - Earth Date 2026/03/27 Next: (estimated) 2028/05/15
Perihelion occurred in 2024 at Ls 251 on Sol 485 - Earth Date 2024/05/08 Next: (estimated) 2026/03/06 (actual) 2026/03/26
Perihelion occurred in 2022 at Ls 251 on Sol 485 - Earth Date 2022/06/21 Next: (actual) 2024/05/08
Aphelion Earth Dates: Next: 2027/03/04 Earlier: 2025/04/16, 2023/05/30, 2021/07/12, 2019/08/25, 2017/10/07, 2015/11/20
Aphelion occurred at--- Ls 071 on Sol 152.
Aphelion occurred near Ls 070 on Sol 153 (per http://www.planetary.org)
Note#3: The computations below are dependent upon both the computations provided by the reference web site and by accuracy of recording of the time of observations. The calculations use tenths of hours. The Sun Distance needs to be captured at the moment the time increments to a given tenth.
Note on data below: The figure quoted after distance is a rate of progress along the orbital path [exact meaning to be determined]
Minus prefix means Mars is approaching the Sun. Plus prefix means Mars is moving away from the Sun.
The figure computed to the right of "Difference" is the rate of change of the distance to Sun. Increasing to Aphelion/Decreasing to Perihelion.
Aphelion of Mars is due March 04, 2027 Sol 151-152 Note velocity of Mars was 22.0 km/s nearing Aphelion (21.97 km/s)
Perhelion of Mars is due May, 2028 Sol 251 Note velocity of Mars was 26.5 km/s nearing Perhelion 2026/03/26
===
Distance: Mars >> Sun per theskylive.com: No Report km [24.6 km/s] Difference is +0 <= +0 km/hour at 12.0 on 08/15 (time 12:00) (24.0 hours)
Distance: Mars >> Sun per theskylive.com: 223,960,347 km [24.6 km/s] Difference is +194667 <= +8111 km/hour at 12.0 on 08/14 (time 12:00) (24.0 hours)
Distance: Mars >> Sun per theskylive.com: 223,765,680 km [24.6 km/s] Difference is +194480 <= +8103 km/hour at 12.0 on 08/13 (time 12:00) (24.0 hours)
Distance: Mars >> Sun per theskylive.com: 223,571,201 km [24.6 km/s] Difference is +194250 <= +8094 km/hour at 12.0 on 08/12 (time 12:00) (24.0 hours)
>13
Velocity along the orbit is NOT the same thing as velocity change of the radial distance to the Sun. Both are shown in the section above.
Observation: The sky view is ** filled ** with objects and some have been recorded and given identification by humans or their robot assistants
And! ** All ** the location assignments are from the perspective of Earth. The entire catalog needs to be adjusted when inter-stellar travel begins
The work that lies ahead for the astronomical community is daunting - there is work ahead for centuries
2022/01/19 - All current (existing) stellar catalogs are computed with reference to the Earth. Another civilization would use it's planet as reference.
Perhaps a Milky Way frame of reference will become necessary at some point. The Earth is as good a Zero point as any, for humans.
=== Mars is in Regular movement as seen from Earth.
Mars is in Gemini
Next ahead: Star above path TYC 1877-528-1 RA 06h 11m 40.4s
Star in path TYC 1877-868-1 RA 6h 9m 44.9s Day 2 between 5 and 10 markers
14>
Zoom Out Capability As a general observation ... I've become increasingly interested in knowing what the larger view of the sky might be like.
The site: theskylive.com does a terrific job of matching the view from Earth towards Mars, against a background of actual astronomical plates.
I wish there were a way (or rather, I wish I ** knew ** about a way that may exist) to enlarge the view until the entire galaxy is in view (Zoom out)
Update 2022/12/08 TheSkyLive.com provides a large view of selected objects: Select [Major Bodies] Then select [Information] in the body of interest
Update 2022/12/08 Scroll down to (body) Position and Finder Charts. Field of view is 50x30 degrees.
Light travel in one second is (about) 300,000 kilometers. The distance covered in one minute is about 18,000,000 kilometers. Estimated light times:
1:18,2:36,3:54,4:72,5:90,6:108,7:126,8:144,9:162,10:180,11:198,12:216,13:234,14:252,15:270,16:288,17:306,18:324, 19:342,20:360,21:378,22:396
Light travel time today is between 17 and 18 minutes. Communications delay would be 34+ minutes round trip.
=== Time estimate will change below 288 megaKm
Earth Distance in km: 2026/08/15 289,221,572 (decreasing)
Earth Distance in km: 2026/08/14 289,991,572 (decreasing)
Earth Distance in km: 2026/08/13 290,686,701 (decreasing)
>15
Maximum Earth-Mars distance is estimated to be 401 million kilometers (both at apogee and opposite vs Sun) Minimum is about 56 million kilometers
Mars and Earth were in Opposition (Earth center) in December of 2022. The date coincided with a (very rare) occultation of Mars by the Moon.
Mars and Earth were in Conjunction (Sun center) in November of 2023.
Mars and Earth appear to have been as close as they will get in Year 36. 81,454,323 kilometers on J0036644 Time: 4.53 minutes - 9 minutes round trip
In his online interview with Dr. Zubrin at the 2020 Mars Conference, Elon Musk reminded the audience that communications with Mars will necessarily include an intermediary station to handle traffic when the Sun is between Mars and Earth. Communications delays in that circumstance will increase due to the extra distance to be covered. Mr. Musk indicated he expects such communication will be handled by laser. Location would be optimum at poles of solar plane.
This web site offers an online model of the solar system: www.solarsystemscope.com
This web site offers an online orrery view of the Solar System: https://www.theplanetstoday.com/
===
Sol 624 is in Month 23 of a Proposed 24 month calendar. See Post 19 of Holidays topic for a summary. <<< 595 is skip day on Mars
Month 23 extends from Sol 614 through 641. <<== There are 28 days in Month 23. See post 82 of Holidays topic for current details.
Direct path to source: http://newmars.com/forums/viewtopic.php … 57#p154257
Sol 624 is Wednesday in the Proposed Business calendar for Mars. Sol 595 Skip Day on Mars. Next is near 632 of Year 38 595
##
The Next New Year's on Mars will occur when Solar Longitude reaches 360 degrees. Year 38 started November 12, 2024 on Earth
Per www.planetary.org Year 36 started 2021/02/07 on Earth. Mars Year 37 began 2022/12/27 on Earth.
Days of the Week Alignment:
Days of the week fall behind Earth due to the longer Sol, but they also change when Friday is omitted at the end of a Quarter
337 Earth days were observed to elapse in the 2020 weekday cycle. There were 7 week day transitions and 2 Quarter ends.
The next cycle began on the first Sol of the period of coincidence. The alignment of weekdays interval is in the range: (310 - 337)
To find the first day of a period of coincidence: Set up: SearchTerm(colon) and (colon)Alignment and J0036* or J0037*
The most recent End-Of-Quarter change occurred: … The search specified above gave 11 pages of results.
For current weather on Mars see:
***https://mars.nasa.gov/insight/weather/***
***Insight's weather info has been suspended and now is directing to msl*** <<-- Insight's mission is over (2022)
https://mars.nasa.gov/msl/weather/
Per SpaceNut: Here is another web page by NASA containing the latest news releases
https://mars.nasa.gov/news/?page=0&per_ … ope=Latest
All forum members are invited to post significant events for this day.
Events of interest will be ON Mars, or relate to Mars. Examples are launches, landings, discoveries
Standard Month in Mars Business Calendar Copyright ® 2023 NewMars.com Mars Society
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
Recruiting text may be found at the bottom of this post: http://newmars.com/forums/viewtopic.php … 57#p154257
Copyright the Mars Society All Rights Reserved
Month 23 of 24: <<== Fifth month of Quarter 4 Note start of Astromical Month 12 in Year 38
Offline
Like button can go here
Place holder for today's Calendar update:
[51.4792N, 0.0000E] 08/16/2026, 13:00:00 Europe/London
Object: Mars [open sky map]
RA 06h 14m 49.3s Dec +23° 41' 55.7" Appar J2000
Mag: 1.24 (Estimated: JPL) Const: Gemini
Current ID: 240951
Total number of registered users: 19,630
Total number of topics: 9,101
Total number of posts: 236,631
Newest registered user: Redfoot-2026
Registered users online: 1
Guests online: 165
Online: tahanson43206
Offline
Like button can go here
===
Today on Mars: 0038/23/12 Thursday Days of the week OFFSET 3 with Earth. (count from Mars to Earth )
Sol 625 Business Month 23 Fourth month of Quarter 4 of Year 38
Today on Earth: 2026/08/16 Sunday Earth Date)
>16
To see how this calendar works, we show the standard 28 day month at the bottom of this daily report.
There are 20 months of 28 Sols and 4 months of 27 Sols at the end of the four six-month quarters.
New Years Eve is extended to align the Business Calendar for Mars with the Astronomical calendar.
Business and Astronomical both start at zero (to the nanosecond) on New Year's Day.
This calendar has been in operation for two full Mars years (36 and 37). We are in Year 38
This calendar is NOT the Darian Calendar!
Per http://www-mars.lmd.jussieu.fr/mars/tim … _time.html also see: in-the-sky.org for opposition/perigee/aphelion
Martian Year: 38 Martian Astronomical Interval in 12 interval format: 12 <<== The Astronomical interval
Check Longitude: the interval will increment when longitude reaches 360 degrees
===
Solar Longitude: 336.3 Sol Number: 625 Change in degrees is +.5 Julian date is: J0038625
Solar Longitude: 335.8 Sol Number: 624 Change in degrees is +.5 Julian date is: J0038624
Solar Longitude: 335.3 Sol Number: 623 Change in degrees is +.6 Julian date is: J0038623
#3>
Note that Solar Longitude measurement varies as a function of location in orbit. Ls 0 is the moment when the Sun appears to transit from one hemisphere to the other. Update from Mars.NASA.gov (The Sun crosses the equator of Mars (Vernal Equinox)). The transition itself is a function of the tilt of an object with respect to the Solar plane. Per squarewidget.com, Hipparchus created the celestial coordinate system we use today.
Note#2: https://theskylive.com/mars-tracker This web site shows the astronomical position of Mars as seen from Earth
Todo: At next Aphelion/Perihelion record the Mars date as J00##### (and set Search term)
Perihelion occurred in 2026 at Ls 251 on Sol 486 - Earth Date 2026/03/27 Next: (estimated) 2028/05/15
Perihelion occurred in 2024 at Ls 251 on Sol 485 - Earth Date 2024/05/08 Next: (estimated) 2026/03/06 (actual) 2026/03/26
Perihelion occurred in 2022 at Ls 251 on Sol 485 - Earth Date 2022/06/21 Next: (actual) 2024/05/08
Aphelion Earth Dates: Next: 2027/03/04 Earlier: 2025/04/16, 2023/05/30, 2021/07/12, 2019/08/25, 2017/10/07, 2015/11/20
Aphelion occurred at--- Ls 071 on Sol 152.
Aphelion occurred near Ls 070 on Sol 153 (per http://www.planetary.org)
Note#3: The computations below are dependent upon both the computations provided by the reference web site and by accuracy of recording of the time of observations. The calculations use tenths of hours. The Sun Distance needs to be captured at the moment the time increments to a given tenth.
Note on data below: The figure quoted after distance is a rate of progress along the orbital path [exact meaning to be determined]
Minus prefix means Mars is approaching the Sun. Plus prefix means Mars is moving away from the Sun.
The figure computed to the right of "Difference" is the rate of change of the distance to Sun. Increasing to Aphelion/Decreasing to Perihelion.
Aphelion of Mars is due March 04, 2027 Sol 151-152 Note velocity of Mars was 22.0 km/s nearing Aphelion (21.97 km/s)
Perhelion of Mars is due May, 2028 Sol 251 Note velocity of Mars was 26.5 km/s nearing Perhelion 2026/03/26
===
Distance: Mars >> Sun per theskylive.com: 224,350,188 km [24.6 km/s] Difference is +194920 <= +8121 km/hour at 12.0 on 08/16 (time 12:00) (24.0 hours)
Distance: Mars >> Sun per theskylive.com: 224,155,268 km [24.6 km/s] Difference is +194921 <= +8116 km/hour at 12.0 on 08/15 (time 12:00) (24.0 hours)
Distance: Mars >> Sun per theskylive.com: 223,960,347 km [24.6 km/s] Difference is +194667 <= +8111 km/hour at 12.0 on 08/14 (time 12:00) (24.0 hours)
>13
Velocity along the orbit is NOT the same thing as velocity change of the radial distance to the Sun. Both are shown in the section above.
Observation: The sky view is ** filled ** with objects and some have been recorded and given identification by humans or their robot assistants
And! ** All ** the location assignments are from the perspective of Earth. The entire catalog needs to be adjusted when inter-stellar travel begins
The work that lies ahead for the astronomical community is daunting - there is work ahead for centuries
2022/01/19 - All current (existing) stellar catalogs are computed with reference to the Earth. Another civilization would use it's planet as reference.
Perhaps a Milky Way frame of reference will become necessary at some point. The Earth is as good a Zero point as any, for humans.
=== Mars is in Regular movement as seen from Earth.
Mars is in Gemini
Next ahead: Star above 10 hours marker: TYC 1877-792-1 RA 6h 14m 44.9s
Star above path TYC 1877-528-1 RA 06h 11m 40.4s Day 2 Past 10 hours marker
14>
Zoom Out Capability As a general observation ... I've become increasingly interested in knowing what the larger view of the sky might be like.
The site: theskylive.com does a terrific job of matching the view from Earth towards Mars, against a background of actual astronomical plates.
I wish there were a way (or rather, I wish I ** knew ** about a way that may exist) to enlarge the view until the entire galaxy is in view (Zoom out)
Update 2022/12/08 TheSkyLive.com provides a large view of selected objects: Select [Major Bodies] Then select [Information] in the body of interest
Update 2022/12/08 Scroll down to (body) Position and Finder Charts. Field of view is 50x30 degrees.
Light travel in one second is (about) 300,000 kilometers. The distance covered in one minute is about 18,000,000 kilometers. Estimated light times:
1:18,2:36,3:54,4:72,5:90,6:108,7:126,8:144,9:162,10:180,11:198,12:216,13:234,14:252,15:270,16:288,17:306,18:324, 19:342,20:360,21:378,22:396
Light travel time today is between 17 and 18 minutes. Communications delay would be 34+ minutes round trip.
=== Time estimate will change below 288 megaKm
Earth Distance in km: 2026/08/16 288,581,560 (decreasing)
Earth Distance in km: 2026/08/15 289,221,572 (decreasing)
Earth Distance in km: 2026/08/14 289,991,572 (decreasing)
>15
Maximum Earth-Mars distance is estimated to be 401 million kilometers (both at apogee and opposite vs Sun) Minimum is about 56 million kilometers
Mars and Earth were in Opposition (Earth center) in December of 2022. The date coincided with a (very rare) occultation of Mars by the Moon.
Mars and Earth were in Conjunction (Sun center) in November of 2023.
Mars and Earth appear to have been as close as they will get in Year 36. 81,454,323 kilometers on J0036644 Time: 4.53 minutes - 9 minutes round trip
In his online interview with Dr. Zubrin at the 2020 Mars Conference, Elon Musk reminded the audience that communications with Mars will necessarily include an intermediary station to handle traffic when the Sun is between Mars and Earth. Communications delays in that circumstance will increase due to the extra distance to be covered. Mr. Musk indicated he expects such communication will be handled by laser. Location would be optimum at poles of solar plane.
This web site offers an online model of the solar system: www.solarsystemscope.com
This web site offers an online orrery view of the Solar System: https://www.theplanetstoday.com/
===
Sol 625 is in Month 23 of a Proposed 24 month calendar. See Post 19 of Holidays topic for a summary. <<< 595 is skip day on Mars
Month 23 extends from Sol 614 through 641. <<== There are 28 days in Month 23. See post 82 of Holidays topic for current details.
Direct path to source: http://newmars.com/forums/viewtopic.php … 57#p154257
Sol 625 is Thursday in the Proposed Business calendar for Mars. Sol 595 Skip Day on Mars. Next is near 632 of Year 38 595
##
The Next New Year's on Mars will occur when Solar Longitude reaches 360 degrees. Year 38 started November 12, 2024 on Earth
Per www.planetary.org Year 36 started 2021/02/07 on Earth. Mars Year 37 began 2022/12/27 on Earth.
Days of the Week Alignment:
Days of the week fall behind Earth due to the longer Sol, but they also change when Friday is omitted at the end of a Quarter
337 Earth days were observed to elapse in the 2020 weekday cycle. There were 7 week day transitions and 2 Quarter ends.
The next cycle began on the first Sol of the period of coincidence. The alignment of weekdays interval is in the range: (310 - 337)
To find the first day of a period of coincidence: Set up: SearchTerm(colon) and (colon)Alignment and J0036* or J0037*
The most recent End-Of-Quarter change occurred: … The search specified above gave 11 pages of results.
For current weather on Mars see:
***https://mars.nasa.gov/insight/weather/***
***Insight's weather info has been suspended and now is directing to msl*** <<-- Insight's mission is over (2022)
https://mars.nasa.gov/msl/weather/
Per SpaceNut: Here is another web page by NASA containing the latest news releases
https://mars.nasa.gov/news/?page=0&per_ … ope=Latest
All forum members are invited to post significant events for this day.
Events of interest will be ON Mars, or relate to Mars. Examples are launches, landings, discoveries
Standard Month in Mars Business Calendar Copyright ® 2023 NewMars.com Mars Society
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
Recruiting text may be found at the bottom of this post: http://newmars.com/forums/viewtopic.php … 57#p154257
Copyright the Mars Society All Rights Reserved
Month 23 of 24: <<== Fifth month of Quarter 4 Note start of Astronomical Month 12 in Year 38
Offline
Like button can go here
Place holder for today's Calendar update:
[51.4792N, 0.0000E] 08/17/2026, 13:00:00 Europe/London
Object: Mars [open sky map]
RA 06h 17m 40.8s Dec +23° 41' 40.7" Appar J2000
Mag: 1.21 (Estimated: JPL) Const: Gemini
Current ID: 240968
Total number of registered users: 19,630
Total number of topics: 9,102
Total number of posts: 236,648
Newest registered user: Redfoot-2026
Registered users online: 1
Guests online: 85
Online: tahanson43206
Offline
Like button can go here
===
Today on Mars: 0038/23/13 Friday Days of the week OFFSET 3 with Earth. (count from Mars to Earth )
Sol 626 Business Month 23 Fourth month of Quarter 4 of Year 38
Today on Earth: 2026/08/17 Monday Earth Date)
>16
To see how this calendar works, we show the standard 28 day month at the bottom of this daily report.
There are 20 months of 28 Sols and 4 months of 27 Sols at the end of the four six-month quarters.
New Years Eve is extended to align the Business Calendar for Mars with the Astronomical calendar.
Business and Astronomical both start at zero (to the nanosecond) on New Year's Day.
This calendar has been in operation for two full Mars years (36 and 37). We are in Year 38
This calendar is NOT the Darian Calendar!
Per http://www-mars.lmd.jussieu.fr/mars/tim … _time.html also see: in-the-sky.org for opposition/perigee/aphelion
Martian Year: 38 Martian Astronomical Interval in 12 interval format: 12 <<== The Astronomical interval
Check Longitude: the interval will increment when longitude reaches 360 degrees
===
Solar Longitude: 336.9 Sol Number: 626 Change in degrees is +.6 Julian date is: J0038626
Solar Longitude: 336.3 Sol Number: 625 Change in degrees is +.5 Julian date is: J0038625
Solar Longitude: 335.8 Sol Number: 624 Change in degrees is +.5 Julian date is: J0038624
#3>
Note that Solar Longitude measurement varies as a function of location in orbit. Ls 0 is the moment when the Sun appears to transit from one hemisphere to the other. Update from Mars.NASA.gov (The Sun crosses the equator of Mars (Vernal Equinox)). The transition itself is a function of the tilt of an object with respect to the Solar plane. Per squarewidget.com, Hipparchus created the celestial coordinate system we use today.
Note#2: https://theskylive.com/mars-tracker This web site shows the astronomical position of Mars as seen from Earth
Todo: At next Aphelion/Perihelion record the Mars date as J00##### (and set Search term)
Perihelion occurred in 2026 at Ls 251 on Sol 486 - Earth Date 2026/03/27 Next: (estimated) 2028/05/15
Perihelion occurred in 2024 at Ls 251 on Sol 485 - Earth Date 2024/05/08 Next: (estimated) 2026/03/06 (actual) 2026/03/26
Perihelion occurred in 2022 at Ls 251 on Sol 485 - Earth Date 2022/06/21 Next: (actual) 2024/05/08
Aphelion Earth Dates: Next: 2027/03/04 Earlier: 2025/04/16, 2023/05/30, 2021/07/12, 2019/08/25, 2017/10/07, 2015/11/20
Aphelion occurred at--- Ls 071 on Sol 152.
Aphelion occurred near Ls 070 on Sol 153 (per http://www.planetary.org)
Note#3: The computations below are dependent upon both the computations provided by the reference web site and by accuracy of recording of the time of observations. The calculations use tenths of hours. The Sun Distance needs to be captured at the moment the time increments to a given tenth.
Note on data below: The figure quoted after distance is a rate of progress along the orbital path [exact meaning to be determined]
Minus prefix means Mars is approaching the Sun. Plus prefix means Mars is moving away from the Sun.
The figure computed to the right of "Difference" is the rate of change of the distance to Sun. Increasing to Aphelion/Decreasing to Perihelion.
Aphelion of Mars is due March 04, 2027 Sol 151-152 Note velocity of Mars was 22.0 km/s nearing Aphelion (21.97 km/s)
Perhelion of Mars is due May, 2028 Sol 251 Note velocity of Mars was 26.5 km/s nearing Perhelion 2026/03/26
===
Distance: Mars >> Sun per theskylive.com: 224,545,328 km [24.5 km/s] Difference is +195140 <= +8131 km/hour at 12.0 on 08/17 (time 12:00) (24.0 hours)
Distance: Mars >> Sun per theskylive.com: 224,350,188 km [24.5 km/s] Difference is +194920 <= +8121 km/hour at 12.0 on 08/16 (time 12:00) (24.0 hours)
Distance: Mars >> Sun per theskylive.com: 224,155,268 km [24.6 km/s] Difference is +194921 <= +8116 km/hour at 12.0 on 08/15 (time 12:00) (24.0 hours)
>13
Velocity along the orbit is NOT the same thing as velocity change of the radial distance to the Sun. Both are shown in the section above.
Observation: The sky view is ** filled ** with objects and some have been recorded and given identification by humans or their robot assistants
And! ** All ** the location assignments are from the perspective of Earth. The entire catalog needs to be adjusted when inter-stellar travel begins
The work that lies ahead for the astronomical community is daunting - there is work ahead for centuries
2022/01/19 - All current (existing) stellar catalogs are computed with reference to the Earth. Another civilization would use it's planet as reference.
Perhaps a Milky Way frame of reference will become necessary at some point. The Earth is as good a Zero point as any, for humans.
=== Mars is in Regular movement as seen from Earth.
Mars is in Gemini
Next ahead: Star above path TYC 1878-1312-1 RA 6h 17m 56.1s
Star above 10 hours marker: TYC 1877-792-1 RA 6h 14m 44.9s Day 2 past 10 hours
14>
Zoom Out Capability As a general observation ... I've become increasingly interested in knowing what the larger view of the sky might be like.
The site: theskylive.com does a terrific job of matching the view from Earth towards Mars, against a background of actual astronomical plates.
I wish there were a way (or rather, I wish I ** knew ** about a way that may exist) to enlarge the view until the entire galaxy is in view (Zoom out)
Update 2022/12/08 TheSkyLive.com provides a large view of selected objects: Select [Major Bodies] Then select [Information] in the body of interest
Update 2022/12/08 Scroll down to (body) Position and Finder Charts. Field of view is 50x30 degrees.
Light travel in one second is (about) 300,000 kilometers. The distance covered in one minute is about 18,000,000 kilometers. Estimated light times:
1:18,2:36,3:54,4:72,5:90,6:108,7:126,8:144,9:162,10:180,11:198,12:216,13:234,14:252,15:270,16:288,17:306,18:324, 19:342,20:360,21:378,22:396
Light travel time today is between 17 and 18 minutes. Communications delay would be 34+ minutes round trip.
=== Time estimate will change below 288 megaKm
Earth Distance in km: 2026/08/17 287,866,712 (decreasing)
Earth Distance in km: 2026/08/16 288,581,560 (decreasing)
Earth Distance in km: 2026/08/15 289,221,572 (decreasing)
>15
Maximum Earth-Mars distance is estimated to be 401 million kilometers (both at apogee and opposite vs Sun) Minimum is about 56 million kilometers
Mars and Earth were in Opposition (Earth center) in December of 2022. The date coincided with a (very rare) occultation of Mars by the Moon.
Mars and Earth were in Conjunction (Sun center) in November of 2023.
Mars and Earth appear to have been as close as they will get in Year 36. 81,454,323 kilometers on J0036644 Time: 4.53 minutes - 9 minutes round trip
In his online interview with Dr. Zubrin at the 2020 Mars Conference, Elon Musk reminded the audience that communications with Mars will necessarily include an intermediary station to handle traffic when the Sun is between Mars and Earth. Communications delays in that circumstance will increase due to the extra distance to be covered. Mr. Musk indicated he expects such communication will be handled by laser. Location would be optimum at poles of solar plane.
This web site offers an online model of the solar system: www.solarsystemscope.com
This web site offers an online orrery view of the Solar System: https://www.theplanetstoday.com/
===
Sol 626 is in Month 23 of a Proposed 24 month calendar. See Post 19 of Holidays topic for a summary. <<< 595 is skip day on Mars
Month 23 extends from Sol 614 through 641. <<== There are 28 days in Month 23. See post 82 of Holidays topic for current details.
Direct path to source: http://newmars.com/forums/viewtopic.php … 57#p154257
Sol 626 is Friday in the Proposed Business calendar for Mars. Sol 595 Skip Day on Mars. Next is near 632 of Year 38 595
##
The Next New Year's on Mars will occur when Solar Longitude reaches 360 degrees. Year 38 started November 12, 2024 on Earth
Per www.planetary.org Year 36 started 2021/02/07 on Earth. Mars Year 37 began 2022/12/27 on Earth.
Days of the Week Alignment:
Days of the week fall behind Earth due to the longer Sol, but they also change when Friday is omitted at the end of a Quarter
337 Earth days were observed to elapse in the 2020 weekday cycle. There were 7 week day transitions and 2 Quarter ends.
The next cycle began on the first Sol of the period of coincidence. The alignment of weekdays interval is in the range: (310 - 337)
To find the first day of a period of coincidence: Set up: SearchTerm(colon) and (colon)Alignment and J0036* or J0037*
The most recent End-Of-Quarter change occurred: … The search specified above gave 11 pages of results.
For current weather on Mars see:
***https://mars.nasa.gov/insight/weather/***
***Insight's weather info has been suspended and now is directing to msl*** <<-- Insight's mission is over (2022)
https://mars.nasa.gov/msl/weather/
Per SpaceNut: Here is another web page by NASA containing the latest news releases
https://mars.nasa.gov/news/?page=0&per_ … ope=Latest
All forum members are invited to post significant events for this day.
Events of interest will be ON Mars, or relate to Mars. Examples are launches, landings, discoveries
Standard Month in Mars Business Calendar Copyright ® 2023 NewMars.com Mars Society
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
Recruiting text may be found at the bottom of this post: http://newmars.com/forums/viewtopic.php … 57#p154257
Copyright the Mars Society All Rights Reserved
Month 23 of 24: <<== Fifth month of Quarter 4 Note start of Astromical Month 12 in Year 38
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Place holder for today's Calendar update:
[51.4792N, 0.0000E] 08/18/2026, 13:00:08 Europe/London
Object: Mars [open sky map]
RA 06h 20m 32.3s Dec +23° 41' 13.8" Appar J2000
Mag: 1.21 (Estimated: JPL) Const: Gemini
Sun Dist: 224,740,605 km [24.5 km/s] Km Mi
Earth Dist: 287,145,272 km [38.8 km/s]
Martian Year:
38
Martian Astronomical Month:
12
Solar longitude Ls:
337.4
Sol number:
627
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Place holder for today's Calendar update:
[51.4792N, 0.0000E] 08/18/2026, 13:00:08 Europe/London
Object: Mars [open sky map]
RA 06h 20m 32.3s Dec +23° 41' 13.8" Appar J2000
Mag: 1.21 (Estimated: JPL) Const: Gemini
Current ID: 240978
Total number of registered users: 19,630
Total number of topics: 9,102
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Newest registered user: Redfoot-2026
Registered users online: 1
Guests online: 119
Online: tahanson43206
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===
Today on Mars: 0038/23/14 Saturday Days of the week OFFSET 3 with Earth. (count from Mars to Earth )
Sol 627 Business Month 23 Fourth month of Quarter 4 of Year 38
Today on Earth: 2026/08/18 Tuesday Earth Date)
>16
To see how this calendar works, we show the standard 28 day month at the bottom of this daily report.
There are 20 months of 28 Sols and 4 months of 27 Sols at the end of the four six-month quarters.
New Years Eve is extended to align the Business Calendar for Mars with the Astronomical calendar.
Business and Astronomical both start at zero (to the nanosecond) on New Year's Day.
This calendar has been in operation for two full Mars years (36 and 37). We are in Year 38
This calendar is NOT the Darian Calendar!
Per http://www-mars.lmd.jussieu.fr/mars/tim … _time.html also see: in-the-sky.org for opposition/perigee/aphelion
Martian Year: 38 Martian Astronomical Interval in 12 interval format: 12 <<== The Astronomical interval
Check Longitude: the interval will increment when longitude reaches 360 degrees
===
Solar Longitude: 337.4 Sol Number: 627 Change in degrees is +.5 Julian date is: J0038627
Solar Longitude: 336.9 Sol Number: 626 Change in degrees is +.6 Julian date is: J0038626
Solar Longitude: 336.3 Sol Number: 625 Change in degrees is +.5 Julian date is: J0038625
#3>
Note that Solar Longitude measurement varies as a function of location in orbit. Ls 0 is the moment when the Sun appears to transit from one hemisphere to the other. Update from Mars.NASA.gov (The Sun crosses the equator of Mars (Vernal Equinox)). The transition itself is a function of the tilt of an object with respect to the Solar plane. Per squarewidget.com, Hipparchus created the celestial coordinate system we use today.
Note#2: https://theskylive.com/mars-tracker This web site shows the astronomical position of Mars as seen from Earth
Todo: At next Aphelion/Perihelion record the Mars date as J00##### (and set Search term)
Perihelion occurred in 2026 at Ls 251 on Sol 486 - Earth Date 2026/03/27 Next: (estimated) 2028/05/15
Perihelion occurred in 2024 at Ls 251 on Sol 485 - Earth Date 2024/05/08 Next: (estimated) 2026/03/06 (actual) 2026/03/26
Perihelion occurred in 2022 at Ls 251 on Sol 485 - Earth Date 2022/06/21 Next: (actual) 2024/05/08
Aphelion Earth Dates: Next: 2027/03/04 Earlier: 2025/04/16, 2023/05/30, 2021/07/12, 2019/08/25, 2017/10/07, 2015/11/20
Aphelion occurred at--- Ls 071 on Sol 152.
Aphelion occurred near Ls 070 on Sol 153 (per http://www.planetary.org)
Note#3: The computations below are dependent upon both the computations provided by the reference web site and by accuracy of recording of the time of observations. The calculations use tenths of hours. The Sun Distance needs to be captured at the moment the time increments to a given tenth.
Note on data below: The figure quoted after distance is a rate of progress along the orbital path [exact meaning to be determined]
Minus prefix means Mars is approaching the Sun. Plus prefix means Mars is moving away from the Sun.
The figure computed to the right of "Difference" is the rate of change of the distance to Sun. Increasing to Aphelion/Decreasing to Perihelion.
Aphelion of Mars is due March 04, 2027 Sol 151-152 Note velocity of Mars was 22.0 km/s nearing Aphelion (21.97 km/s)
Perhelion of Mars is due May, 2028 Sol 251 Note velocity of Mars was 26.5 km/s nearing Perhelion 2026/03/26
===
Distance: Mars >> Sun per theskylive.com: 224,740,605 km [24.5 km/s] Difference is +195277 <= +8137 km/hour at 12.0 on 08/18 (time 12:00) (24.0 hours)
Distance: Mars >> Sun per theskylive.com: 224,545,328 km [24.5 km/s] Difference is +195140 <= +8131 km/hour at 12.0 on 08/17 (time 12:00) (24.0 hours)
Distance: Mars >> Sun per theskylive.com: 224,350,188 km [24.5 km/s] Difference is +194920 <= +8121 km/hour at 12.0 on 08/16 (time 12:00) (24.0 hours)
>13
Velocity along the orbit is NOT the same thing as velocity change of the radial distance to the Sun. Both are shown in the section above.
Observation: The sky view is ** filled ** with objects and some have been recorded and given identification by humans or their robot assistants
And! ** All ** the location assignments are from the perspective of Earth. The entire catalog needs to be adjusted when inter-stellar travel begins
The work that lies ahead for the astronomical community is daunting - there is work ahead for centuries
2022/01/19 - All current (existing) stellar catalogs are computed with reference to the Earth. Another civilization would use it's planet as reference.
Perhaps a Milky Way frame of reference will become necessary at some point. The Earth is as good a Zero point as any, for humans.
=== Mars is in Regular movement as seen from Earth.
Mars is in Gemini
Next ahead: Star above path TYC 1878-363-1 m7.16 (bright) RA 6h 21m 49.2s
Star above path TYC 1878-1312-1 RA 6h 17m 56.1s Day 2 Past 10 hours marker
14>
Zoom Out Capability As a general observation ... I've become increasingly interested in knowing what the larger view of the sky might be like.
The site: theskylive.com does a terrific job of matching the view from Earth towards Mars, against a background of actual astronomical plates.
I wish there were a way (or rather, I wish I ** knew ** about a way that may exist) to enlarge the view until the entire galaxy is in view (Zoom out)
Update 2022/12/08 TheSkyLive.com provides a large view of selected objects: Select [Major Bodies] Then select [Information] in the body of interest
Update 2022/12/08 Scroll down to (body) Position and Finder Charts. Field of view is 50x30 degrees.
Light travel in one second is (about) 300,000 kilometers. The distance covered in one minute is about 18,000,000 kilometers. Estimated light times:
1:18,2:36,3:54,4:72,5:90,6:108,7:126,8:144,9:162,10:180,11:198,12:216,13:234,14:252,15:270,16:288,17:306,18:324, 19:342,20:360,21:378,22:396
Light travel time today is between 17 and 18 minutes. Communications delay would be 34+ minutes round trip.
=== Time estimate will change below 288 megaKm
Earth Distance in km: 2026/08/18 218,145,272 (decreasing)
Earth Distance in km: 2026/08/17 287,866,712 (decreasing)
Earth Distance in km: 2026/08/16 288,581,560 (decreasing)
>15
Maximum Earth-Mars distance is estimated to be 401 million kilometers (both at apogee and opposite vs Sun) Minimum is about 56 million kilometers
Mars and Earth were in Opposition (Earth center) in December of 2022. The date coincided with a (very rare) occultation of Mars by the Moon.
Mars and Earth were in Conjunction (Sun center) in November of 2023.
Mars and Earth appear to have been as close as they will get in Year 36. 81,454,323 kilometers on J0036644 Time: 4.53 minutes - 9 minutes round trip
In his online interview with Dr. Zubrin at the 2020 Mars Conference, Elon Musk reminded the audience that communications with Mars will necessarily include an intermediary station to handle traffic when the Sun is between Mars and Earth. Communications delays in that circumstance will increase due to the extra distance to be covered. Mr. Musk indicated he expects such communication will be handled by laser. Location would be optimum at poles of solar plane.
This web site offers an online model of the solar system: www.solarsystemscope.com
This web site offers an online orrery view of the Solar System: https://www.theplanetstoday.com/
===
Sol 627 is in Month 23 of a Proposed 24 month calendar. See Post 19 of Holidays topic for a summary. <<< 595 is skip day on Mars
Month 23 extends from Sol 614 through 641. <<== There are 28 days in Month 23. See post 82 of Holidays topic for current details.
Direct path to source: http://newmars.com/forums/viewtopic.php … 57#p154257
Sol 627 is Saturday in the Proposed Business calendar for Mars. Sol 595 Skip Day on Mars. Next is near 632 of Year 38 595
##
The Next New Year's on Mars will occur when Solar Longitude reaches 360 degrees. Year 38 started November 12, 2024 on Earth
Per www.planetary.org Year 36 started 2021/02/07 on Earth. Mars Year 37 began 2022/12/27 on Earth.
Days of the Week Alignment:
Days of the week fall behind Earth due to the longer Sol, but they also change when Friday is omitted at the end of a Quarter
337 Earth days were observed to elapse in the 2020 weekday cycle. There were 7 week day transitions and 2 Quarter ends.
The next cycle began on the first Sol of the period of coincidence. The alignment of weekdays interval is in the range: (310 - 337)
To find the first day of a period of coincidence: Set up: SearchTerm(colon) and (colon)Alignment and J0036* or J0037*
The most recent End-Of-Quarter change occurred: … The search specified above gave 11 pages of results.
For current weather on Mars see:
***https://mars.nasa.gov/insight/weather/***
***Insight's weather info has been suspended and now is directing to msl*** <<-- Insight's mission is over (2022)
https://mars.nasa.gov/msl/weather/
Per SpaceNut: Here is another web page by NASA containing the latest news releases
https://mars.nasa.gov/news/?page=0&per_ … ope=Latest
All forum members are invited to post significant events for this day.
Events of interest will be ON Mars, or relate to Mars. Examples are launches, landings, discoveries
Standard Month in Mars Business Calendar Copyright ® 2023 NewMars.com Mars Society
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
Recruiting text may be found at the bottom of this post: http://newmars.com/forums/viewtopic.php … 57#p154257
Copyright the Mars Society All Rights Reserved
Month 23 of 24: <<== Fifth month of Quarter 4 Note start of Astromical Month 12 in Year 38
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Place holder for today's Calendar update.
The daily report from theskylive.com is missing because I overwrote the clipboard before creating this new post.
We will pick up the position data one hour later.
[51.4792N, 0.0000E] 08/19/2026, 14:00:01 Europe/London
Object: Mars [open sky map]
RA 06h 23m 30.3s Dec +23° 40' 34.4" Appar J2000
Mag: 1.21 (Estimated: JPL) Const: Gemini
Current ID: 240997 We are about to roll the numbers to 241000 Thanks to our members for your contributions to NewMars forum
Total number of registered users: 19,630
Total number of topics: 9,102
Total number of posts: 236,678
Newest registered user: Redfoot-2026
Registered users online: 2
Guests online: 140
Online: tahanson43206, Terraformer
(th)
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===
Today on Mars: 0038/23/15 Sunday Days of the week OFFSET 3 with Earth. (count from Mars to Earth )
Sol 628 Business Month 23 Fourth month of Quarter 4 of Year 38
Today on Earth: 2026/08/19 Wednesday Earth Date)
>16
To see how this calendar works, we show the standard 28 day month at the bottom of this daily report.
There are 20 months of 28 Sols and 4 months of 27 Sols at the end of the four six-month quarters.
New Years Eve is extended to align the Business Calendar for Mars with the Astronomical calendar.
Business and Astronomical both start at zero (to the nanosecond) on New Year's Day.
This calendar has been in operation for two full Mars years (36 and 37). We are in Year 38
This calendar is NOT the Darian Calendar!
Per http://www-mars.lmd.jussieu.fr/mars/tim … _time.html also see: in-the-sky.org for opposition/perigee/aphelion
Martian Year: 38 Martian Astronomical Interval in 12 interval format: 12 <<== The Astronomical interval
Check Longitude: the interval will increment when longitude reaches 360 degrees
===
Solar Longitude: 337.9 Sol Number: 628 Change in degrees is +.5 Julian date is: J0038628
Solar Longitude: 337.4 Sol Number: 627 Change in degrees is +.5 Julian date is: J0038627
Solar Longitude: 336.9 Sol Number: 626 Change in degrees is +.6 Julian date is: J0038626
#3>
Note that Solar Longitude measurement varies as a function of location in orbit. Ls 0 is the moment when the Sun appears to transit from one hemisphere to the other. Update from Mars.NASA.gov (The Sun crosses the equator of Mars (Vernal Equinox)). The transition itself is a function of the tilt of an object with respect to the Solar plane. Per squarewidget.com, Hipparchus created the celestial coordinate system we use today.
Note#2: https://theskylive.com/mars-tracker This web site shows the astronomical position of Mars as seen from Earth
Todo: At next Aphelion/Perihelion record the Mars date as J00##### (and set Search term)
Perihelion occurred in 2026 at Ls 251 on Sol 486 - Earth Date 2026/03/27 Next: (estimated) 2028/05/15
Perihelion occurred in 2024 at Ls 251 on Sol 485 - Earth Date 2024/05/08 Next: (estimated) 2026/03/06 (actual) 2026/03/26
Perihelion occurred in 2022 at Ls 251 on Sol 485 - Earth Date 2022/06/21 Next: (actual) 2024/05/08
Aphelion Earth Dates: Next: 2027/03/04 Earlier: 2025/04/16, 2023/05/30, 2021/07/12, 2019/08/25, 2017/10/07, 2015/11/20
Aphelion occurred at--- Ls 071 on Sol 152.
Aphelion occurred near Ls 070 on Sol 153 (per http://www.planetary.org)
Note#3: The computations below are dependent upon both the computations provided by the reference web site and by accuracy of recording of the time of observations. The calculations use tenths of hours. The Sun Distance needs to be captured at the moment the time increments to a given tenth.
Note on data below: The figure quoted after distance is a rate of progress along the orbital path [exact meaning to be determined]
Minus prefix means Mars is approaching the Sun. Plus prefix means Mars is moving away from the Sun.
The figure computed to the right of "Difference" is the rate of change of the distance to Sun. Increasing to Aphelion/Decreasing to Perihelion.
Aphelion of Mars is due March 04, 2027 Sol 151-152 Note velocity of Mars was 22.0 km/s nearing Aphelion (21.97 km/s)
Perhelion of Mars is due May, 2028 Sol 251 Note velocity of Mars was 26.5 km/s nearing Perhelion 2026/03/26
===
Distance: Mars >> Sun per theskylive.com: 224,944,097 km [24.4 km/s] Difference is +203492 <= +8140 km/hour at 13.0 on 08/19 (time 13:00) (25.0 hours)
Distance: Mars >> Sun per theskylive.com: 224,740,605 km [24.5 km/s] Difference is +195277 <= +8137 km/hour at 12.0 on 08/18 (time 12:00) (24.0 hours)
Distance: Mars >> Sun per theskylive.com: 224,545,328 km [24.5 km/s] Difference is +195140 <= +8131 km/hour at 12.0 on 08/17 (time 12:00) (24.0 hours)
>13
Velocity along the orbit is NOT the same thing as velocity change of the radial distance to the Sun. Both are shown in the section above.
Observation: The sky view is ** filled ** with objects and some have been recorded and given identification by humans or their robot assistants
And! ** All ** the location assignments are from the perspective of Earth. The entire catalog needs to be adjusted when inter-stellar travel begins
The work that lies ahead for the astronomical community is daunting - there is work ahead for centuries
2022/01/19 - All current (existing) stellar catalogs are computed with reference to the Earth. Another civilization would use it's planet as reference.
Perhaps a Milky Way frame of reference will become necessary at some point. The Earth is as good a Zero point as any, for humans.
=== Mars is in Regular movement as seen from Earth.
Mars is in Gemini
Next ahead: Star above path TYC 1878-750-1 RA 6h 24m 48.8s
Star above path TYC 1878-363-1 m7.16 (bright) RA 6h 21m 49.2s Day 2 just past Mars
14>
Zoom Out Capability As a general observation ... I've become increasingly interested in knowing what the larger view of the sky might be like.
The site: theskylive.com does a terrific job of matching the view from Earth towards Mars, against a background of actual astronomical plates.
I wish there were a way (or rather, I wish I ** knew ** about a way that may exist) to enlarge the view until the entire galaxy is in view (Zoom out)
Update 2022/12/08 TheSkyLive.com provides a large view of selected objects: Select [Major Bodies] Then select [Information] in the body of interest
Update 2022/12/08 Scroll down to (body) Position and Finder Charts. Field of view is 50x30 degrees.
Light travel in one second is (about) 300,000 kilometers. The distance covered in one minute is about 18,000,000 kilometers. Estimated light times:
1:18,2:36,3:54,4:72,5:90,6:108,7:126,8:144,9:162,10:180,11:198,12:216,13:234,14:252,15:270,16:288,17:306,18:324, 19:342,20:360,21:378,22:396
Light travel time today is between 17 and 18 minutes. Communications delay would be 34+ minutes round trip.
=== Time estimate will change below 270 megaKm
Earth Distance in km: 2026/08/19 286,386,950 (decreasing)
Earth Distance in km: 2026/08/18 287,126,831 (decreasing) << estimated
Earth Distance in km: 2026/08/17 287,866,712 (decreasing)
>15
Maximum Earth-Mars distance is estimated to be 401 million kilometers (both at apogee and opposite vs Sun) Minimum is about 56 million kilometers
Mars and Earth were in Opposition (Earth center) in December of 2022. The date coincided with a (very rare) occultation of Mars by the Moon.
Mars and Earth were in Conjunction (Sun center) in November of 2023.
Mars and Earth appear to have been as close as they will get in Year 36. 81,454,323 kilometers on J0036644 Time: 4.53 minutes - 9 minutes round trip
In his online interview with Dr. Zubrin at the 2020 Mars Conference, Elon Musk reminded the audience that communications with Mars will necessarily include an intermediary station to handle traffic when the Sun is between Mars and Earth. Communications delays in that circumstance will increase due to the extra distance to be covered. Mr. Musk indicated he expects such communication will be handled by laser. Location would be optimum at poles of solar plane.
This web site offers an online model of the solar system: www.solarsystemscope.com
This web site offers an online orrery view of the Solar System: https://www.theplanetstoday.com/
===
Sol 628 is in Month 23 of a Proposed 24 month calendar. See Post 19 of Holidays topic for a summary. <<< 595 is skip day on Mars
Month 23 extends from Sol 614 through 641. <<== There are 28 days in Month 23. See post 82 of Holidays topic for current details.
Direct path to source: http://newmars.com/forums/viewtopic.php … 57#p154257
Sol 628 is Sunday in the Proposed Business calendar for Mars. Sol 595 Skip Day on Mars. Next is near 632 of Year 38 595
##
The Next New Year's on Mars will occur when Solar Longitude reaches 360 degrees. Year 38 started November 12, 2024 on Earth
Per www.planetary.org Year 36 started 2021/02/07 on Earth. Mars Year 37 began 2022/12/27 on Earth.
Days of the Week Alignment:
Days of the week fall behind Earth due to the longer Sol, but they also change when Friday is omitted at the end of a Quarter
337 Earth days were observed to elapse in the 2020 weekday cycle. There were 7 week day transitions and 2 Quarter ends.
The next cycle began on the first Sol of the period of coincidence. The alignment of weekdays interval is in the range: (310 - 337)
To find the first day of a period of coincidence: Set up: SearchTerm(colon) and (colon)Alignment and J0036* or J0037*
The most recent End-Of-Quarter change occurred: … The search specified above gave 11 pages of results.
For current weather on Mars see:
***https://mars.nasa.gov/insight/weather/***
***Insight's weather info has been suspended and now is directing to msl*** <<-- Insight's mission is over (2022)
https://mars.nasa.gov/msl/weather/
Per SpaceNut: Here is another web page by NASA containing the latest news releases
https://mars.nasa.gov/news/?page=0&per_ … ope=Latest
All forum members are invited to post significant events for this day.
Events of interest will be ON Mars, or relate to Mars. Examples are launches, landings, discoveries
Standard Month in Mars Business Calendar Copyright ® 2023 NewMars.com Mars Society
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
Recruiting text may be found at the bottom of this post: http://newmars.com/forums/viewtopic.php … 57#p154257
Copyright the Mars Society All Rights Reserved
Month 23 of 24: <<== Fifth month of Quarter 4 Note start of Astromical Month 12 in Year 38
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Place holder for today's Calendar update:
51.4792N, 0.0000E] 08/20/2026, 13:01:47 Europe/London
Object: Mars [open sky map]
RA 06h 26m 14.0s Dec +23° 39' 47.6" Appar J2000
Mag: 1.22 (Estimated: JPL) Const: Gemini
51.4792N, 0.0000E] 08/20/2026, 13:01:47 Europe/London
Object: Mars [open sky map]
RA 06h 26m 14.0s Dec +23° 39' 47.6" Appar J2000
Mag: 1.22 (Estimated: JPL) Const: Gemini
Sun Dist: 225,131,648 km [24.4 km/s] Km Mi
Earth Dist: 285,682,080 km [38.5 km/s]
Martian Year:
38
Martian Month:
12
Solar longitude Ls:
338.5
Sol number:
629
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===
Today on Mars: 0038/23/16 Monday Days of the week OFFSET 3 with Earth. (count from Mars to Earth )
Sol 629 Business Month 23 Fourth month of Quarter 4 of Year 38
Today on Earth: 2026/08/20 Thursday Earth Date)
>16
To see how this calendar works, we show the standard 28 day month at the bottom of this daily report.
There are 20 months of 28 Sols and 4 months of 27 Sols at the end of the four six-month quarters.
New Years Eve is extended to align the Business Calendar for Mars with the Astronomical calendar.
Business and Astronomical both start at zero (to the nanosecond) on New Year's Day.
This calendar has been in operation for two full Mars years (36 and 37). We are in Year 38
This calendar is NOT the Darian Calendar!
Per http://www-mars.lmd.jussieu.fr/mars/tim … _time.html also see: in-the-sky.org for opposition/perigee/aphelion
Martian Year: 38 Martian Astronomical Interval in 12 interval format: 12 <<== The Astronomical interval
Check Longitude: the interval will increment when longitude reaches 360 degrees
===
Solar Longitude: 338.5 Sol Number: 629 Change in degrees is +.6 Julian date is: J0038629
Solar Longitude: 337.9 Sol Number: 628 Change in degrees is +.5 Julian date is: J0038628
Solar Longitude: 337.4 Sol Number: 627 Change in degrees is +.5 Julian date is: J0038627
#3>
Note that Solar Longitude measurement varies as a function of location in orbit. Ls 0 is the moment when the Sun appears to transit from one hemisphere to the other. Update from Mars.NASA.gov (The Sun crosses the equator of Mars (Vernal Equinox)). The transition itself is a function of the tilt of an object with respect to the Solar plane. Per squarewidget.com, Hipparchus created the celestial coordinate system we use today.
Note#2: https://theskylive.com/mars-tracker This web site shows the astronomical position of Mars as seen from Earth
Todo: At next Aphelion/Perihelion record the Mars date as J00##### (and set Search term)
Perihelion occurred in 2026 at Ls 251 on Sol 486 - Earth Date 2026/03/27 Next: (estimated) 2028/05/15
Perihelion occurred in 2024 at Ls 251 on Sol 485 - Earth Date 2024/05/08 Next: (estimated) 2026/03/06 (actual) 2026/03/26
Perihelion occurred in 2022 at Ls 251 on Sol 485 - Earth Date 2022/06/21 Next: (actual) 2024/05/08
Aphelion Earth Dates: Next: 2027/03/04 Earlier: 2025/04/16, 2023/05/30, 2021/07/12, 2019/08/25, 2017/10/07, 2015/11/20
Aphelion occurred at--- Ls 071 on Sol 152.
Aphelion occurred near Ls 070 on Sol 153 (per http://www.planetary.org)
Note#3: The computations below are dependent upon both the computations provided by the reference web site and by accuracy of recording of the time of observations. The calculations use tenths of hours. The Sun Distance needs to be captured at the moment the time increments to a given tenth.
Note on data below: The figure quoted after distance is a rate of progress along the orbital path [exact meaning to be determined]
Minus prefix means Mars is approaching the Sun. Plus prefix means Mars is moving away from the Sun.
The figure computed to the right of "Difference" is the rate of change of the distance to Sun. Increasing to Aphelion/Decreasing to Perihelion.
Aphelion of Mars is due March 04, 2027 Sol 151-152 Note velocity of Mars was 22.0 km/s nearing Aphelion (21.97 km/s)
Perhelion of Mars is due May, 2028 Sol 251 Note velocity of Mars was 26.5 km/s nearing Perhelion 2026/03/26
===
Distance: Mars >> Sun per theskylive.com: 225,131,648 km [24.4 km/s] Difference is +187551 <= +8154 km/hour at 12.0 on 08/20 (time 12:00) (23.0 hours)
Distance: Mars >> Sun per theskylive.com: 224,944,097 km [24.4 km/s] Difference is +203492 <= +8140 km/hour at 13.0 on 08/19 (time 13:00) (25.0 hours)
Distance: Mars >> Sun per theskylive.com: 224,740,605 km [24.5 km/s] Difference is +195277 <= +8137 km/hour at 12.0 on 08/18 (time 12:00) (24.0 hours)
>13
Velocity along the orbit is NOT the same thing as velocity change of the radial distance to the Sun. Both are shown in the section above.
Observation: The sky view is ** filled ** with objects and some have been recorded and given identification by humans or their robot assistants
And! ** All ** the location assignments are from the perspective of Earth. The entire catalog needs to be adjusted when inter-stellar travel begins
The work that lies ahead for the astronomical community is daunting - there is work ahead for centuries
2022/01/19 - All current (existing) stellar catalogs are computed with reference to the Earth. Another civilization would use it's planet as reference.
Perhaps a Milky Way frame of reference will become necessary at some point. The Earth is as good a Zero point as any, for humans.
=== Mars is in Regular movement as seen from Earth.
Mars is in Gemini
Next ahead: mini-boomer: HIP 38689 RA 6h 27m 00.1s
Star above path TYC 1878-750-1 RA 6h 24m 48.8s Day 2 Past Mars
14>
Zoom Out Capability As a general observation ... I've become increasingly interested in knowing what the larger view of the sky might be like.
The site: theskylive.com does a terrific job of matching the view from Earth towards Mars, against a background of actual astronomical plates.
I wish there were a way (or rather, I wish I ** knew ** about a way that may exist) to enlarge the view until the entire galaxy is in view (Zoom out)
Update 2022/12/08 TheSkyLive.com provides a large view of selected objects: Select [Major Bodies] Then select [Information] in the body of interest
Update 2022/12/08 Scroll down to (body) Position and Finder Charts. Field of view is 50x30 degrees.
Light travel in one second is (about) 300,000 kilometers. The distance covered in one minute is about 18,000,000 kilometers. Estimated light times:
1:18,2:36,3:54,4:72,5:90,6:108,7:126,8:144,9:162,10:180,11:198,12:216,13:234,14:252,15:270,16:288,17:306,18:324, 19:342,20:360,21:378,22:396
Light travel time today is between 17 and 18 minutes. Communications delay would be 34+ minutes round trip.
=== Time estimate will change below 270 megaKm
Earth Distance in km: 2026/08/20 285,682,080 (decreasing)
Earth Distance in km: 2026/08/19 286,386,950 (decreasing)
Earth Distance in km: 2026/08/18 287,126,831 (decreasing) << estimated
>15
Maximum Earth-Mars distance is estimated to be 401 million kilometers (both at apogee and opposite vs Sun) Minimum is about 56 million kilometers
Mars and Earth were in Opposition (Earth center) in December of 2022. The date coincided with a (very rare) occultation of Mars by the Moon.
Mars and Earth were in Conjunction (Sun center) in November of 2023.
Mars and Earth appear to have been as close as they will get in Year 36. 81,454,323 kilometers on J0036644 Time: 4.53 minutes - 9 minutes round trip
In his online interview with Dr. Zubrin at the 2020 Mars Conference, Elon Musk reminded the audience that communications with Mars will necessarily include an intermediary station to handle traffic when the Sun is between Mars and Earth. Communications delays in that circumstance will increase due to the extra distance to be covered. Mr. Musk indicated he expects such communication will be handled by laser. Location would be optimum at poles of solar plane.
This web site offers an online model of the solar system: www.solarsystemscope.com
This web site offers an online orrery view of the Solar System: https://www.theplanetstoday.com/
===
Sol 629 is in Month 23 of a Proposed 24 month calendar. See Post 19 of Holidays topic for a summary. <<< 595 is skip day on Mars
Month 23 extends from Sol 614 through 641. <<== There are 28 days in Month 23. See post 82 of Holidays topic for current details.
Direct path to source: http://newmars.com/forums/viewtopic.php … 57#p154257
Sol 629 is Monday in the Proposed Business calendar for Mars. Sol 595 Skip Day on Mars. Next is near 632 of Year 38 595
##
The Next New Year's on Mars will occur when Solar Longitude reaches 360 degrees. Year 38 started November 12, 2024 on Earth
Per www.planetary.org Year 36 started 2021/02/07 on Earth. Mars Year 37 began 2022/12/27 on Earth.
Days of the Week Alignment:
Days of the week fall behind Earth due to the longer Sol, but they also change when Friday is omitted at the end of a Quarter
337 Earth days were observed to elapse in the 2020 weekday cycle. There were 7 week day transitions and 2 Quarter ends.
The next cycle began on the first Sol of the period of coincidence. The alignment of weekdays interval is in the range: (310 - 337)
To find the first day of a period of coincidence: Set up: SearchTerm(colon) and (colon)Alignment and J0036* or J0037*
The most recent End-Of-Quarter change occurred: … The search specified above gave 11 pages of results.
For current weather on Mars see:
***https://mars.nasa.gov/insight/weather/***
***Insight's weather info has been suspended and now is directing to msl*** <<-- Insight's mission is over (2022)
https://mars.nasa.gov/msl/weather/
Per SpaceNut: Here is another web page by NASA containing the latest news releases
https://mars.nasa.gov/news/?page=0&per_ … ope=Latest
All forum members are invited to post significant events for this day.
Events of interest will be ON Mars, or relate to Mars. Examples are launches, landings, discoveries
Standard Month in Mars Business Calendar Copyright ® 2023 NewMars.com Mars Society
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
Recruiting text may be found at the bottom of this post: http://newmars.com/forums/viewtopic.php … 57#p154257
Copyright the Mars Society All Rights Reserved
Month 23 of 24: <<== Fifth month of Quarter 4 Note start of Astromical Month 12 in Year 38
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